The fine Sutlej Medal 1845-1846, reverse for Moodkee 1845, 3 Clasps: Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon, awarded to Private William Montieth, 50th Queen’s Own Regiment of Foot, During the Sutlej Campaign of 1845 to 1846, Montieth 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. Montieth fought through all four of the major actions and remarkably remained unscathed.
Sutlej Medal 1845-1846, reverse for Moodkee 1845, 3 Clasps: Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon; (WILLIAM MONTIETH 50TH. REGT.)
Condition: very light contact wear, generally Good Very Fine or better.
William Montieth saw service as a Private (No.539) with the 50th Queen’s Own Regiment of Foot, and was present out in India 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, Montieth being one of those men to gain the medal with the maximum entitlement for being in all four actions, he also came out unscathed.
