Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

A good Indian campaign group of four to Private John Williamson, 14th Light Dragoons

Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (John Williamson, 14th Lt. Dragns.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (J. Williamson, 14th King’s Lt. Dgns.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (I. Williamson, 14th Lgt. Drgns.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (663 J. Williamson, 14th Lt. Dragns.) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (4) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson.

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John Williamson was born at Richmond, Surrey, and enlisted for the 14th Light Dragoons at London on 21 August 1839, aged 19 years 6 months. He served with the Army of the Punjab in 1848-49; was present at the affair at Ramnugger and at the battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat; present at the surrender of the Sikh Army, the occupation of Attock and Peshawur, and the expulsion of the Afghans beyond the Khyber Pass. Received a Medal for services in the Punjab campaign, a bar for the battle of Chilianwala and one for the battle of Goojerat. Served in the Persian Expedition... (received a medal for services in Persia, having landed previous to 4 April 1857)... [and served with the Central India Field Force] in 1857-8 under the command of Major General Sir Hugh Rose, K.C.B.; was present at the capture of Rathgur 29 January, action of Barodia 31 January, forcing of the Muddenpore Pass 3 March, battle of Betwa 1 April, and the siege and capture of Jhansi 5 April 1858.

In March 1858, after having been much exposed on duty by day and night with the Central India Field Force, he was admitted into hospital with conjunctive opthalmia affecting both eyes, apparently caused by the effects of climate and exposure on military duty. He was sent to England for a change of climate but was there found unfit for further military service in consequence of impaired vision of both eyes, the result of chronic opthalmia, and was discharged at Chatham on 16 September 1860. Sold with copy discharge papers from which most of the above information is taken.