A superb Officer’s Punjab Medal 1848-1849, 2 Clasps: Goojerat, Chilianwala awarded to Captain K. Murchison, 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot who saw service during the Sutlej Campaign of 1845-46 and was present at the Battle of Ferozeshuhur on 21st and 22nd December 1945 before being wounded at Sobraon on 10th February 1846. He would go on to take part in the Sikh Wars of 1848-1849 when he would be present at the Battle of Chilianwala and later at the Battle of Goojerat. He would retire on full pay on 10th December 1852, and would subsequently be advanced to Major with effect from 28th November 1854.
Punjab Medal 1848-1849, 2 Clasps: Goojerat, Chilianwala; (CAPTN. K. MURCHISON. 29TH FOOT) Mounted on a silver claw suspension for wear.
Condition: mounted on a silver claw suspension for wear, Good Very Fine
Kenneth Murchison was born o 18th September 1804 at Inverness, Scotland., the son of Kenneth Murchison and his wife Martha, former surname Urquhart. His earliest military service included time with 1st Battalion, Scottish Fusiliers Guards (3rd Foot Guards) from when at age 27 he was appointed to be Colour Sergeant and Acting Sergeant Major of 29th Foot Reserve Companies with regimental number 826 on 1st March 1831. He joined the service companies at Port Louis, Mauritius on 25th October 1834. The 29th Foot had disembarked at Port Louis eight years earlier on 21st September 1826.
Kenneth Murchison was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major on 24th December 1834 serving in this capacity for just over four yeas until 31st January 1839. 29th Foot were back in the UK from 1838, serving at Plymouth, Bristol , Woolwich, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast prior to sailing for India in 1842. Sergeant Major Murchison was commissioned as Ensign with effect from 1st February 1839 and appointed Adjutant from 20th March 1840. He was promoted to Lieutenant 29th Foot on 20th May 1941.
The 29th Regiment of Foot took part in the Sutlej Campaign of 1845-46 and Lieutenant Murchison was present at the Battle of Ferozeshuhur, 21st-22nd December 1845. He received field promotion to Captain, 29th Foot with effect from 22nd December 1945. The account of the Regiment’s involvement in this battle is covered on pages 439-444 of Major Everard’s ‘History of Thomas Farringtons Regiment subsequently designated the 29th Foot (Worcestershire) Foot, 1694 to 1891. Lieutenant Murchison is mentioned at page 441 in connection with a passage about officer casualties ‘Lt A.A. Simmons who commanding the Grenadier Company in Captain Lucas’ absence (Serving as Brigade Major and KIA) had been wounded in the foot, and was limping away, leaning on Lt. Murchison when a bullet struck him in the head, and he fell dead at Lt. Kirby’s Feet.’ Clearly all still in the thick of the action. At the ensuing Battle of Sobroan on 10th February 1846. The regiment again suffered multiple casualties including Captain Murchison slightly wounded; Everard’s history covers the Battle between pages 448-452. Murchison had qualified for the Sutlej Medal with clasp Sobraon, this medal appeared in the Glendinning’s auction of 5th October 1983 as Lot 48 and subsequently in the Spink’s Numismatic Circular of February 1984. Murchison was granted a promotion to Captain on 20th March 1846 and commanded the Grenadier Company from 12th August 1847 until 1849.
He was then commanding the Grenadier Company whilst 29th Foot were service in the Army of the Punjab campaign. Everard covered this campaign at pages 459 to 478. Captain Murchison is mentioned as commanding a Flank Company on one occasion called at 2am on 20th November 1848 after the Regiment had been alerted by Sikh Cavalry close to them. The Regiment fought in the Passage of the Chenab, the Battle of Chilianwala and Goojerat on 13th January and 21st February respectively, and the subsequent pursuit of the Sikhs to the Jhelum. The original squad book complete by Lieutenant William Congreve, 29th Foot, held at Mercian Regiment Museum Archives, Worcester indicates that Lieutenant Congreve’s squad was in No.5 or Captain K. Murchison’s Company at Meerut on 1st January 1851. Throughout the 1850s, 29th Foot had East Indies service at stations in India and Burma before returning to England in 1859. Captain Murchison however returned to England earlier. Everard’s History indicates at page 499, that Captain Murchison on 1st November 1852 who in England and included in the strength return of the 29th Foot Depot at Chatham (then called the Provisional) by reason of being on UK leave from 20th August to 14th November 1852. It was shortly after this, on 10th December 1852 that his retirement on full pay took effect. In retirement he was advanced to Major with effect from 28th November 1854.
Murchison would be married twice, his first partner unfortunately dying shortly after giving birth to a stillborn son on 5th August 1852. He would marry for a second time, this time to a woman from Jersey in 1854, and would live in the channel islands until his death in St. Helier, Jersey on 24th December 1883.
