SUTLEJ MEDAL 1845-1846

[Guest Darrell]

Instituted 17th April 1846 for award to the officers and men of the Army of the Sutlej that took part in the First Sikh War.

Description: 36mm diameter in silver with an ornate swivelling suspender. Obverse; the diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend "VICTORIA REGINA." Reverse; the standing winged figure of Victory offering a wreath, with a trophy of arms at her feet. Around the edge is the inscription "ARMY OF THE SUTLEJ". There are four versions of reverse, the relevant issue decided by the recipients first action which appears in exergue; MOODKEE 1845, FEROZESHUHUR 1845, ALIWAL 1846 and SOBRAON 1846. The recipient's further actions (if any) were then commemorated with a Bar:

MOODKEE (18th December 1845)

FEROZESHUHUR (21st -22 December 1845 )

ALIWAL (28th January 1846)

SOBRAON (10th February 1846)

Naming: Impressed in serif capitals.

Ribbon: dark blue with crimson edges.

The next medal in the Victorian Series was the Punjab Medal (shown elsewhere on this forum).

The following Medal was awarded to (rank at the time) LIEUTENANT John Kingston Phibbs with the 41st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry.

A brief history of Mr. Phibbs who retired as a Lt. Col. in 1855.

John Kingston Phibbs was born in Barnet on 16th Oct 1806.

- Cadet 1825.

- Arrived in India 24th Nov 1825.

- Ensign 13th May 1825.

- Lieut. 2nd Aug 1828.

- Capt. 1st July 1846.

- Bt. Major 12th Nov 1851.

- Lt. Col. 15th June 1855.

- Retired 26th March 1855.

Died at Pelham House, 30 Sutherland Gardens, London on 25th Feb 1879.

He was the son of William Henry Phibbs of Mortimer Street, a wine merchant and Jane his wife. He had one brother William Henry Phibbs.

Services: Posted Ensign to the 41st N.I. and served throughout with that Regiment.

Fur. s.c. 17th Jan 1836 till 19th Jan 1839.

First Sikh War awarded the Sutlej Medal with Ferozshahr reverse and Sobraon Clasp.

Obverse:

Edited June 5, 2010 by Darrell

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of the SOBRAON Clasp:

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Closeup of the Obverse:

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Reverse:

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Closeup of the Reverse (w/ the FEROZESHUHUR on Reverse of disc):

[Guest Darrell]

Naming on the Rim (impressed Serif capitals):

a.

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b.

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c.

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A search online at FINDMYPAST found these hits in the Army Lists for Phibbs:

[Guest Darrell]

A little document of research that came with the medal:

[Guest Darrell]

A few of the downloaded FindMyPast Documents of the Army Lists for Phibbs:

a. The listing of Captain:

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of Phibbs name:

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b. Listed as Major:

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Closeup of Phibbs name on Majors List:

[Guest Darrell]

A few listings of Phibbs in the Retirement Lists:

i. HM Indian Forces:

[Guest Darrell]

The closeup for Phibbs entry:

[Guest Darrell]

ii. RETIRED OFFICERS:

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Phibbs:

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iii. BENGAL RETIRED OFFICERS:

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of Phibbs name:

[Guest Darrell]

Hopefully soon I'll receive a few pictures of the NI Rolls of the 41st where he was entitled to the Medal and Clasp.

[army historian]

Very very nice research - Great Job. Captain Albert

[Guest Darrell]

Thanks Capt! :cheers: