Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Lieutt. T. Pierce, 30th Regt. N.I.) an official replacement medal re-engraved in running script, nearly very fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe.

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Thomas Pierce was born on Christmas Eve, 1826, at Hope Parish, Flintshire, and educated at Christ’s Hospital, London, and by private tutors. He was nominated a Cadet in the H.E.I.C. by Sir Richard Jenkins, G.C.B., and commissioned Ensign in December 1844. He arrived in India in March 1845 and was posted to the 30th Bengal N.I., with which regiment he fought at the battle of Aliwal (His unpublished diary of events at that period can be found in the Manuscripts Division at the British Library).

In January 1849 he was promoted to Lieutenant and fought in the Punjab campaign at the passage of the Chenab, at the battle of Chilianwala, where he was slightly wounded, and at the battle of Gujerat and subsequent pursuit of the Sikhs and Afghans. By March 1858 Pierce was second-in-command of the Mharwannah Battalion but there is no indication that he saw action during the mutiny. He retired with the rank of Hon. Major-General in August 1876 and died on 3 February 1885.