A TOTALLY ORIGINAL GWALIOR STAR (PUNNIAR 29th DECr 1843)

To:
(1656) William Cooke, 50th Queen's Own (West Kent) Regiment. "THE DIRTY HALF HUNDRED"

A REALLY LOVELY MEDAL in EF on its ORIGINAL RIBBON. The medal has a classic rear strap & loop with silver open box suspender conversion from the original hook.

Unusually, both William Cooke's attestation & discharge papers have survived. Eight pages of colour copies are included.

[BIOGRAPHY]
William was born at Trowbridge, Wiltshire in January 1823 and prior to enlistment was a labourer. The joined the army at Bath in May 1841 age 18 and 5 months . This medal is his only entitlement due to his early discharge from a serious eye condition with loss of vision contracted at Cawnpore in 1844. He was discharged on 9th June 1846 with a recorded period of service of 5 years & 19 days. William's surname is spelt "Cooke" on his medal and (apart from one entry) is spelt "Cook" on the papers. Like the majority of the common soldiery of the period, William was illiterate and "His Mark" ( an "X" ) is shown as his witnessed signature on his papers.

[ABOUT THE MEDAL]
The Gwalior Star is a Campaign Medal which was presented to the soldiers of the British Army who took part in the 1843 Gwalior Campaign by the Honourable East India Company . On December 29th 1843, the British Army defeated Maharaja Mahadji Rao Scindia, and regained control of Gwalior. The first division of the army, commanded by Sir Hugh Gough was victorious at the Battle of Maharajpoor. Major-General Grey, on the same day, with the second division, was victorious at the Battle of Punniar This is a very rare medal to find - manufactured by the Calcutta Mint . The six pointed star was made of bronze from guns captured during the Gwalior Campaign. There is a silver star with a silver disk to the centre, on it is : PUNNIAR 29th Dec, 1843 The back of the medal is plain but engraved with the name of the soldier.

AN EXCELLENT & EXCEPTIONAL ITEM.
£1250 (SOLD)

NOTE ON PRICE: these sometimes show up at auction in ratty condition, normally with much contact damage, blunted star tips etc and new ribbons, and hardly ever with any service papers. And, they are invariably the "MAHARAJPOOR" medal rather than the much rarer "PUNNIAR". Even then they bring c,£700. Thus, our premium example is a seriously scarce & high quality representative of the much scarcer medal.....and with full papers.