Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Major J. L. Mowatt. 2nd Cy. 2nd Battn. Arty.) good very fine £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Roy Painter.

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John Lealand Mowatt was born in Eastbourne in 1804, son of Captain J. R. Mowatt, 28th Foot, and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery on 16 June 1820; Lieutenant, 1 May 1824; Captain, 20 April 1838; Major, 7 January 1848; Lieutenant-Colonel, 20 February 1855; brevet Colonel, 28 November 1855.

He served in the operations against Hill tribes in Sind 1843-45; Captain 1st Coy. 2nd Bn. Transferred to 4th Troop 1st Brigade Horse Artillery, 24 July 1845. Served in Second Sikh War, including actions at Ramnagar, Chilianwala and Goojerat (Medal with 2 clasps).

At Goojerat ‘Nos. 5 and 10, light field-batteries, were attached to the infantry division, under General Campbell. Of these, the General writes:- “I cannot find language to express my sense of the calm, steady, and admirable manner in which these two batteries were commanded and worked by Major Mowatt, the commanding officer, and by Major Ludlow, and Lieutenant Robertson. The infantry of the 3rd division had not occasion to fire a shot. The enemy were driven from their different positions, and from the field, by the fire of these two field-batteries, aided by that of the Bombay troop” (Buckle’s Memoir of the services of the Bengal Artillery refers).

Colonel Mowatt died of cholera, camp Pipli, on the march to Delhi, 30 May 1857, aged 52.