The fine India First Sikh War Sutlej Campaign and Crimean War Casualty pair awarded to Sergeant William Garrett, 50th Queen’s Own Regiment of Foot. During the Sutlej Campaign of 1845 to 1846, Garrett was involved in every major action, being present at the battle of Moodkee on 18th December 1845, at the battle of Ferozeshuhur from 21st to 22nd December 1845, the battle of Aliwal on 28th January 1846, and the battle of Sobraon on 10th February 1846. His regiment was one of only two British regiments to be involved in every major action, but suffered a staggering casualty rate of 593 killed and wounded from the 800 of so men who began the campaign. Garrett fought through all four of the major actions and remarkably remained unscathed. However during the Crimean War, he fought at the Battle of Alma on 20 September 1854, only to die from unknown causes whilst on the march towards Sebastopol in the direct aftermath of the battle.
Sutlej Medal 1845-1846, reverse for Moodkee 1845, 3 Clasps: Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon; (SERJT. WILLIAM GARRETT 50TH. REGT.); Crimea Medal 1854-1856, 1 Clasp: Alma, officially impressed naming; (SERJT. WILLM. GARRETT. 50TH. REGT.)
Condition: both with contact wear, about Very Fine.
William Garrett saw service as a Sergeant (No.1237) with the 50th Queen’s Own Regiment of Foot, and was present out in India from 1841, being shown in that year as at sea and heading for Calcutta. Garrett then saw service during the First Sikh War in the Sutlej Campaign of 1845 to 1846, being involved in every major action, and present at the battle of Moodkee on 18th December 1845, at the battle of Ferozeshuhur from 21st to 22nd December 1845, the battle of Aliwal on 28th January 1846, and the battle of Sobraon on 10th February 1846.
During this war the 50th Foot sustained some 109 casualties at Moodkee, 124 and Ferozeshuhur, 121 at Aliwal and a further 239 at Sobraon, this being by far the highest number of casualties of any of the regiment’s that were present. When one considers the regimental strength at the start of the campaign was around 800 men, and taken into account men wounded in more than one action, the amount of casualties they had over a period of less than two months, 593 killed and wounded was staggering. The 50th Foot became one of only two British Army regiments to take part in every major action, Garrett being one of those men to gain the medal with the maximum entitlement for being in all four actions, he also came out unscathed. There were actually two other men by this exact name on service with the 50th Foot during the campaign, both were however Privates and they both died during the campaign.
The regiment returned to England in July 1848, and as of 1851 was stationed at Ashton Under Lyne. Garrett was still a Sergeant with his regiment embarked for Malta in February 1854 from where it sailed to Varna in June 1854 for service in the Crimean War. He fought at the Battle of Alma on 20 September 1854, but he died on the march to Sebastopol directly after the action at Alma, the cause of his death being unknown.
