Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private William Hawtrey, 3rd Light Dragoons, late 16th Lancers

Ghuznee 1839 (William Hautrey 16th Lancers) named in reverse field, fitted with contemporary replacement silver bar suspension; Maharajpoor Star 1843, unnamed, fitted with silver bar suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846, 1 clasp, Sobraon (Wm. Hantrey 16th Lancers); Punjab 1848-49, 1 clasp, Chilianwala (W. Hawtrey, 3rd Lt. Dragns.) clasp loose on ribbon, brooch marks to obverse, note variations in spelling of surname, the three silver medals contained in a contemporary fitted case with an oval glazed gilt Victorian brooch containing a period image of the recipient wearing all four medals, together with original 3rd Light Dragoons Account Book and Chelsea Hospital Out-Pensioner parchment certificate dated 15 August 1850, contact marks and edge bruising, good fine or better (4) £2000-2400

William Hawtrey was born in the Parish of Windsor, Berkshire, and was attested for the 16th Lancers at St John’s, Middlesex, on 23 July 1830, aged 21 years 11 months, a Plasterer by trade. He served in the East Indies from 29 December 1830 and transferred to the 3rd Light Dragoons on 1 March 1846. He was discharged on 13 August 1850, in consequence of a severe wound received at Chilianwala. The Medical Report states that he ‘was wounded in action with the enemy at Chillianwallah on the 13th of Jany. 1849, on the right fore arm by a Musket Ball which fractured one of the bones near the lower extremity, it passed upwards and lodged so deep among the muscles that it could not be extracted.’

His discharge papers state that he ‘served in the Afghanistan Campaign in 1838 & 1839, was present at the capture of Ghuznee, at the battles of Maharajpore 29 Decr. 1843, at Aliwal and Sobraon 1846; also at the Passage of the Chenab & Sadoolapore in 1848 & Chillianwalla in 1849.’ His character was noted as ‘Bad’ and he was tried by regimental court martial for habitual drunkenness.