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Cabul 1842 Wounded Moodkee from Connaught

Cabul 1842, 1130 Pte Michael McLaughlin, 31st Foot, fought at Mazeena and Tazeen 1st Afghan War, Wounded in Sutlej at Battle of Moodkee, invalided out 20 years in East Indies.

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SKU: J7974 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Very Fine

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Cabul 1842, 1130 Pte Michael McLaughlin, 31st Foot, fought at Mazeena and Tazeen 1st Afghan War, Wounded in Sutlej at Battle of Moodkee, invalided out 20 years in East Indies.

 

Fought the Shinwari Tribesmen in the battle of Mazeena and Prince Akhbar Khans Army at Tazeen, clearing the way to capture Kabul.

Wounded in Action like many of the 31st at the Battle of Moodkee during the Anglo Sikh Sutlej War.

 

Engraved in the correct period regimental style for the 31st with engraved stars at beginning and end of naming reading: “* No. 1130. MICHl McLAUGHLIN: Pt H.MS 31st REGt, *”

 

Contact marking and general wear, fitted with a nice silver replacement clip and bar suspension.

 

Private Michael McLaughlin was an Irishman who came from the small village of Curry in County Sligo, Connacht (Connaught), Ireland.

 

“His character has been Very Good, receiving 3 Good Conduct Badges.

He served in the 2nd Campaign in Affghanistan in 1842 Medal, was present in the engagements of Mazeena and Tazeen.

Served with the Army of the Sutledge in 1845 and was present at Moodkee when he was wounded on 18th December 1845.”

 

His Discharge is proposed in consequence of: “A Gun Shot Wound in the sole of the left foot which in capacitates him from marching.”

 

His medical report:

 

“Private Michael McLaughlin, has served a period of 20 years in the East Indies, and is now unfit for the duties of a Soldier in consequence of a Gun Shot Wound in the sole of the left foot which incapacitates him from marching. His disability has not been occasioned by vice and his conduct while in hospital was been good and correct.”

 

Michael was born in Curry, County Sligo circa 1807.

 

Once he turned 18, he attested at Ashfield, Lancaster for the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot, on 15th June 1825, swearing himself to unlimited service claiming a bounty of £3 to serve his Majesty King George VI.

 

He then set off for the “East Indies” where he would spend the next 20 years.

 

He saw his first transfer of regiment on 3rd December 1828 after 3 years 173, switching over to the 16th (Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire) Regiment.

 

The 47th Lancashires were weary from war service in India and Burma having just fought in the “Ava” campaign of 1826 and were due to return home to England that year, so he volunteered for the 16th Foot, who were just arriving to take over from Ceylon.

 

He served some many years in the 16th Bedfords Regiment, 11 years 29 days until he joined his final regiment the 31st Foot on 1st January 1840.

 

During his service the regiment was stationed in Calcutta from 1829-31, moving to Chinsura via Steam Boats from 1831-33. Then sent on a March to Ghazepore from 1833-34, before moving to Cawnpore on 28th Feb 1834.

 

By 1841 the Regiment was due back home, and at the start of 1840, Private McLaughlin had again transferred to a new regiment.

 

On 1st January 1840, he joined the 31st Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot, later the Surreys or East Surrey Regiment.

 

THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR, FIGHTING AT MAZEENA AND TAZEEN, CAPTURE OF KABUL

 

He was with them when the outbreak of the First Anglo Afghan War broke out, and was moved into Afghanistan to fight iwht Sir George Pollocks “Avenging Army” in the Kabul Campaign of Autumn 1842.

 

During the campaign he fought in the battles of Mazeena, on 26th July 1842, where following a few skirmished during the Raid on the Shinwarree Valley against the Shinwari Tribesmen, a large force, with the 31st as the sole “British Army” Foot Regiment was present fought in the Shinwar District at what is now called “Mazinah” part of Nangarhar district.

 

He then also is noted as having fought in the Battle of Tezeen at “Tezin-e Khas” on 12th and 13th September 1842.

 

At this point both the brigades of General Pollock’s Army had re-united at the Valley of Tezeen where they were met on the field by the Tribal Leader, Prince and General Emir Wazir Akbar Khan and his Forces from Kabul. The Afghans held the heights around the valley but a series of succesful sorties drove them back and this decisive victory then left the way clear for the victorious advance on Cabul.

 

With their victory they had avenged the massacre of the 16500 British who had been shot down by Akbar Khan, however he still managed to become the new Emir of Aghanistan, until his mysterious death in 1845, some believe that his father Dost Mohammed Barakzai had poisoned him out of fear for his amibitions.

 

THE SUTLEJ WAR WOUND AT MOODKEE AND INVALID

 

By the time of the First Anglo Sikh or “Sutlej” War of 1845, Private McLaughlin was closing in on his 21 years of service, promises of a boat back home and a lifetime pension, when his services were once again called upon.

 

His fought in their first battle at “Mudki” or Moodkee on 18th December 1845.

 

The 31st Huntingdonshires were in the 1st Infantry Division, with 2 Sepoy Battalions under Colonel Samuel Bolton, 31st Foot.

 

During the battle they had moved ahead and forced their way deep into the Sikh lines, but the 31st were unsupported by their Sepoy comrades.

 

They managed to overcome fierce resistance by way of Rifle and Bayonet, and captured a large battery and drove off the enemy infantry.

 

During the advance Colonel Bolton, their old faithful leader since the Peninsula War, was mortally wounded, casualties were heavy including another 3 Officers killed in action.

 

The wounded along with McLaughlin, who had been badly shot in the foot, included Lt Col John Byrne, who had taken over command of the Brigade during the battle after Bolton had been wounded, and himself was wounded with the men.

 

DISCHARGE

 

He seems to have carried on with the regiment to finish out the Sikh War, as they arrived back after 20 years overseas, in England during December 1846.

 

Upon arrival back home he was determined by the Surgeon of the 31st and at Chatham to be unfit for further service, the foot wound was too bad to March, he received his full discharge to pension on 23rd March 1847, with over 21 years service aged 39.