Description
India General Service Medal 1854, bar Northwest Frontier, 2126 Private Daniel Omron, 1st Battalion 22nd Regiment, the Cheshire Regiment, 1853 Bori Valley Expedition.
Officially impressed: “2126 D Ormond 1st Bn 22nd Regt”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
Excellent preserved condition, as it was awarded after discharge and he died soon after.
The “Northwest Frontier” clasp was authorised in late 1869 awarded for various expeditions on the North West Frontier of India between 1849 to 1868 making each award to different units for vastly different events.
In the case of the 22nd Cheshire Regiment, they would earn about 438 clasps for their involvement as the only British Regiment present in the Bori Valley Expedition which lasted between 29th November 1853 until 24th February 1854 in the Bori Valley of the NWF, engaged against the Adam Khel Afridi Tribesmen, under the command of Colonel S.B. Boileau, and his forth of about 1740 troops.
An interesting addition to the medal, is that as a young Solder in the 22nd Foot, he took part in the Southern Mahratta Expedition of 1844 under Major General Delamotte, where they captured a number of enemy Forts. This campaign took part in the time just after the 22nd had fought their famous campaign at Scinde where they fought at Meanee, Pte Ormond having joined them just after the end of the campaign, typically these battle honours accompany a Scinde Medal and it is unusual to see them for an IGS NWF.
Daniel Ormond, was born in the City of Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Now part of Leinster circa 1824.
He first enlisted in London on 6th December 1842, at the age of 18.
His service papers recall that he served a long career, spanning a full 21 years and 4 days of which, 15 years and 58 days were spent on service overseas, consisting of: 11 years 202 Days in the East Indies and 3 years 221 days at Malta.
He was discharged having “Completed 21 years service and at his own request”
However on discharge it was noted: “Character and Conduct has been Bad. He is not in possession of a good conduct badge.”
“He has been entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book 64 times.”
“He has been once tried by Court Martial”.
His campaigns fought as written on his records:
“Served in the Campaign in the Southern Mahratta Country in 1844 and 1845 under Major General Delamotte CB. The Pursuit and taking of the Forts Punella and Pownghur, 1st December 1844.
Present at the taking and destruction of the Villages in the Boree Valley in the Peshawar District under Brigadier S.B. Boileau, 29th Novr 1853.”
He was discharged about 16th February 1864.
Some years into becoming an Army Pensioner, he would finally receive recognition for his participation over 15 years earlier in the Bori Valley with the institution of the new Clasp about 1870, his medal being authorised on 11th July 1871 and issued on 20th December 1871.
Daniel had retired from the Army to live in London, he and his wife Catherine (Born 1829 in Waterford, Ireland) are shown on the 1871 Census, living at 24 The Grove Boltons in Kensington where they are noted as “Servants” “In charge of the house”.
Nowadays “The Boltons” in London is the 4th most expensive street in the whole country, it looks like as a trusted Army Pensioner he was taking care of the house for it’s owner, the street being filled with homes owned by prominent individuals with many servants.
This address, at least noted from 1874-74 was recorded as owned by the famous Sir W.S. Gilbert 1836-1911, the Dramatist and Librettis, one half of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, who built the Garrick Theatre.
It looks like at the time of their taking of the home, it was owned by Lewis Joseph Sturge, of the Inner Temple, Barrister at Law.
Daniel died in Kensington during 1873 and was buried in Brompton Cemetery on 23rd July 1873.
Some information on the expedition:
The Column that primarily consisted of Indian Army units consisted of:
Two 9 Pounder Guns with the Peshawar Mountain Train Battery.
22nd Regiment of Foot
1 Squadron of the 7th Irregular Cavarly
Corps of Guides
Sappers and Miners
20th Native Infantry
66th Gurkhas
“Expedition against the Jowaki Afridies of the Bori Villages in 1853.
When the Afridis of the Kohat Pass misbheaved in 1850, the Jowaki Afridis offered the use of their route instead; but they turned out worse than the others, and in 1853 a force of 1700 British traversed their country and destroyed their stronghold at Bori.
The Jowaki Afridis are a clan of the Ada Khel, who inhabit the country lying between the Kohat Pass and the river Indus.”
