A good early Indian campaign pair awarded to Private John Bailys or Bailey of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot who was present as part of General William Nott’s force at the Battle of Kabul in August 1842 before subsequently take part in the Gwalior Campaign when his regiment was ambushed together with other units at Maharajpoor about 50 miles from Agra by the Mahratta Army on 29th December 1843 in an action in which the 40th Foot much distinguished itself, capturing four of the enemies standards.
Pair: Afghanistan Medal 1842, Candahar Ghuznee Cabul reverse (Private John Bailys, H. M. 40th Regt) named in correct sloping running script; Maharajpoor Star 1843, fitted with an original clip as issued and suspended from a ring suspension; correct engraved naming; (Private John Bailey, H.M. 40th Regt.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
John Bailys or Bailey saw service as a Private with the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot, with whom he fought under General William Nott at the Battle of Kabul in August 1842 during the First Anglo-Afghan War. He would subsequently be present in action during the Gwalior Campaign and was with his regiment when it was ambushed together with other units at Maharajpoor about 50 miles from Agra, by the Mahratta Army on 29th December 1843. In the subsequent battle, the 40th Foot much distinguished itself, capturing four of the enemies standards, which are still in possession of the Battalion.
At the Battle of Maharajpoor, the Scindia army had 14 battalions, 1,000 artillerymen with 100 guns, 10,000 cavalry horsemen and infantry of 25,000 foot soldiers stationed at Maharajpura. The British had the 40th Regiment of Foot with the 2nd and 16th Native Infantry Regiments forming the central column, the 39th Regiment of Foot with the 56th Native Infantry Regiment and a field battery forming the left column and the 16th Lancers with two troops of horse artillery as well as other artillery forming the right column.
The centre column advanced to attack where they believed the main enemy force was located. However, during the night the Scindia forces moved and the British were surprised as they came under heavy fire from the Scindia artillery in their new positions. The central column then received the order to take the battery positions, which they did under continuous heavy fire from shot, grape, canister, and chain. The guns were to the south-east of Maharajpore, with two battalions of Scindia troops for each battery, and in Maharajpore with seven battalions for each battery. The British engaged the Gwalior forces in hand-to-hand fighting, both sides taking heavy casualties, and cleared the positions. The Scindia troops fought valiantly making it hard for the British forces to hold the ground. The British finally defeated the Scindia forces, but suffered a huge setback with 979 men killed including General Churchill and top officers, thousands wounded or became physically disabled, and many missing with no records till date. The Gwalior forces were estimated to have lost 2000 to 3000 men.
