The fine India Gwalior Campaign 1843 Battle of Punniar and Indian Mutiny siege and capture of Delhi 1857 pair awarded to Corporal later Private Daniel Knights, 50th Queen Own Royal West Kent Regiment of Foot. later 61st South Gloucestershire Regiment of Foot. Knights was present at the Battle of Punniar on 29th December 1843 during the Gwalior Campaign, and having transferred from the 50th to the 661st Foot, was still in India when the Indian Mutiny broke out, and then saw service during the siege and storming of Delhi between 30 May and 14 September 1857.
Punniar Star 1843, fitted with modified back strap and straight bar suspension, reverse correctly engraved; (CORPORAL DANIEL KN|GHTS 50TH: QUEEN’S OWN REGT); Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, 1 Clasp: Delhi; (D. KNIGHTS. 61ST. REGT.)
Condition: very light contact wear first, second excellent, overall Nearly Extremely Fine.
Daniel Knights saw service as a Private (No.1211) with the 50th Queen Own Royal West Kent Regiment of Foot. Posted out to India in 1841 he was promoted to Corporal and then present at the Battle of Punniar on 29th December 1843 during the Gwalior Campaign. The Gwalior Campaign became necessary due to the disturbances in the state of Gwalior following the death of the Maharajah in February 1843. As a result, Lord Ellenborough, Governor General of India, ordered the formation of an 'Army of Exercise' under Gough to operate along the border. However, in late December, it became necessary to cross into Gwalior and battles were fought at Maharajpoor and Punniar on the 29th December 1843. Af the battle of Maharajpoor, Gough defeated the Mahrattas who were strongly entrenched around the villages of Maharajpoor, Skirkapoor and Chonda. The Gwalior army was destroyed as a fighting force in the encounter with the approximate loss to Gough of 800 men.
Knights subsequently transferred as a Private (No.2560) to the 61st South Gloucestershire Regiment of Foot, and was stationed with this regiment at Peshawar as of 1851. Knights was still in India when the Indian Mutiny broke out, and then saw service during the siege and storming of Delhi between 30 May and 14 September 1857. Knights was then posted back to England and discharged on 3 May 1858.
