A MAGNIFICENT, RARE & VERY EARLY VICTORIAN GROUP OF FOUR.
GHUZNEE, JELLELABAD, CABUL MEDALS
with LONG SERVICE GOOD CONDUCT (Vic)

(Medals from the FIRST Afghan War)



To:
801. Pte-Sgt. J. Mc Laughlin,
13th (Prince Alberts) Somerset Light Infantry.







[THE MEDALS]
GHUZNEE MEDAL 1839
JELLALABAD MEDAL 1842
CABUL MEDAL 1842
L.S.G.C. (Victoria) 1856

Condition is overall VF+ with virtually zero edge bumps.
The medals (180 years old) display the quite normal general overall but non-disfiguring contact marking throughout.

[NAMING & SUSPENSION]
All naming is in a contemporary and superbly executed engraving style. The naming on the Jellalabad and Cabul medals having clearly being executed by the same engraver in a pretty much matching hand.

For clarity we have here "hand drawn" the exact naming style for each medal.(click on photo to enlarge.)

THE GHUZNEE MEDAL


THE JELLALABAD MEDAL


THE CABUL MEDAL


THE LONG SERVICE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL


The contemporary suspension on the first three medals has been superbly done via a set of wonderfully hand made and matching silver block & straight bar swivels. The LSGC is suspended by its original early claw affixed ornate top swivel arrangement.
A Visually Stunning Group.

[BIOGRAPHY] John McLaughlin was born in Londonderry, Ireland on 26th April 1818. At the young age of 13 years & 6 months he enlisted into the "Boy Service" of the 13th Regt of Foot at DINAPORE, India on 27th October 1831, and at age 18 went into the man's service on 26th April 1836.
He was probably the son of a serving soldier in India.

He served abroad for a total of 13 years 116 days with 13 years of home service.

East Indies for: 9 years 93 Days
Gibraltar for: 4 years 23 Days
Home service: 13 years
Total: 26 years approx'.

He left India for England with the regiment on 20th March 1845 and after a four month voyage arrived at Gravesend on 28th July 1845. He was promoted Corporal on 10th May 1854, and Sergeant on 1st June 1855, gaining his Long Service and Good Conduct medal in May 1855.

He was discharged from the army on medal grounds at Chatham on 7th April 1857 at the age of 39. His intended place of residence was Chelmsford in Essex.

This is an outstanding and very rare early complete group with very few similar (mainly three piece groups without an LSGC) showing up at auction over the past 15 years in the £3000-£4000 range.

With a photo copy of the superbly clear and well written up four sheet discharge document. This superb document actually describes the three Afghan campaign medals by individual name, describing them as being for service in the East Indies, and further details the 'service and good conduct medal. All of which is most unusual to see so clearly described on early discharge papers of this type.

A Superb Item & a "MUST HAVE" group for the Somerset L.I. enthusiast.

SOLD