Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Drummer J. Smith, 3rd, 50th, and 61st Foot

Punniar Star 1843, unnamed, riveted hook adapted into small ring suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 3 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon (Drumr. James Smith 50th. Regt.); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (James Smith, 61st. Foot); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (Drumr. J. Smith. 61st. Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (Drummer. James Smith. 61st. Foot 1857) contact marks, traces of lacquer, nearly very fine and better (5) £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Musicians formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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James Smith was born in 1821 at Margate, Kent, and attested for the 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot at Canterbury on 26 August 1839. He proceeded to India the following year and, having been appointed a Drummer on 1 November 1843, took part in the Gwalior campaign, where he was present at the Battle of Punniar, 29 December 1843. Transferring as Private to the 50th (Royal West Kent) Regiment of Foot on 15 October 1844, he served with them throughout the First Sikh War, and was present at the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, and Sobraon. Transferring again to the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot on 15 October 1846, he was with the army during the Second Sikh War, and was present at the passage of the Chenab, the Battles of Chilianwala, Goojerat, and Sadoolapore, and was afterwards with Sir W. Gilbert’s field force in pursuit of the enemy in the Khyber Pass in March 1849. During the Great Sepoy Mutiny he served at the siege, assault, and capture of Delhi in 1857, being further present at the repulse of the sorties in July of that year. He was awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1857, and was discharged on 12 November 1860, after 21 years and 81 days’ service, of which 18 years and 9 months were spent soldiering in India. He died at Tenby in February 1906.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient.