Description
Defence of Jellabad Medal 1842, 1st Type, “Mural Crown” variety, VII April 1842.
Good example of a very rare campaign medal.
Some traces of possible naming on the rim.
The pierced loop and straight bar suspension is identical to most surviving examples seen to the 13th PALI.
A rare and unusual medal, it was only issued about 2,596 times, being produced for the Afghanistan War at the Calcutta Mint and sent to the soldiers.
It was awarded for the Defence of Jellalabad, aka Jalalabad between 12th November 1841 to 7th April 1842, under the Command of Sir Robert Sale.
The garrison consisted of about 2,600 men 13th Foot were the only British Army unit present, being supported by the 35th Bengal Native Infantry and detachments from other Indian Army units as well as some loyal Afghan forces.
Being surrounded by the Afghan forces they beat off numerous assaults and even managed to capture 300 sheep from them when rations ran low. Eventually after 5 hard months under siege, Sir Robert Sale mounted an attack on the Afghans on 7th April, they managed to capture the main camp along with all the baggage, stores, guns and horses. The Afghans were routed and fled back to Kabul.
The next day, George Pollock arrived with his so called “Army of Retribution”, to be played into Jellalabad by the band of the 13th Foot with the Scottish Song “Oh but you’ve been a lang time acoming.”
The 13th Foot became heroes back in England, Queen Victoria making them Light Infantry, and to carry the additional title of “Prince Albert’s Own”.
It was however not that well received, Lord Ellenborough disliked the design and the execution of the medal by the mint, and it was produced in such low numbers that apparently there was not enough for those who died on duty. He proposed that the men could trade in this medal for a new one made in London at the Royal Mint.
William Wyon was approached to design a “Proper” version of the medal, featuring Queen Victoria on the front to be made at the Royal Mint. However when it came time for the men to give up their lacklustre “Mural Crown” medals most of them refused, and chose to keep it instead.
