Description
Maharajpoor Star, 29th December 1843, Private William Parry, 16th The Queen’s Lancers, who charged at Maharajpoor, Aliwal and Sobraon before his death in 1846.
Officially Engraved on reverse : “Private William Parry H.M. 16th Lancers.”
Fitted with a silver replacement suspension bar, this exact style of suspension is commonly seen on other surviving medals to the 16th Lancers, most men seeming to opt for this suspension whilst on service in India over the unwieldy original clip style.
William was also present in the Anglo Sikh War of 1845-6, being entitled to the Sutlej Medal, reverse Aliwal, with bar Sobraon.
This medal is actually still around and was relatively recently being offered alongside an unnamed placeholder star by Medals of England.
William Parry was born circa 1819.
He is first recorded on the 1841 Army Index as present with the 16th Light Dragoons as they were known as at the time in Meerut.
Seeing service at the Battle of Maharajpore on 16th December 1843, he would earn this star.
He would follow it up with fighting in the upcoming Anglo Sikh “Sutledge” War of 1845-6, during this war he earned the medal with battle honours for Aliwal and Sobraon.
Notably at Aliwal the 16th Lancers behaved with great gallantry and charged into an army 10 times their size.
Sadly shortly after the end of the war, he died on 13th August 1846 and was buried on the 14th at Fort William in Calcutta, on this day 11 men from the 16th Lancers died all being buried by the Garrison Chaplain R. Eteson.