Description
Maharajpoor Star, 29th Decr 1843, Private James Parish, H.M. 40th Regiment of Foot.
Reverse of star possibly very neatly erased and engraved in contemporary running script engraved style similar to the original issues reading: “Pt James Parish H.M. 40th Regt”
Nice example overall with silver straight bar replacement suspension and screw nut fitting, whilst seemingly renamed this man is traced as serving with the regiment at least a few years later on the Army Index.
Private James Parish, 40th Foot, is shown on the later 1851 Army Census as serving with number 2719 with the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot, stationed at the time in Cork, Ireland.
THE “FIGHTING FORTIETH” AT MAHARAJPORE
At the battle of Maharajpore, during the Gwalior Campaign, the Maratha Army had a large force of 14 Battalions, 1000 Artillery men with 60 Guns, with 6000 Cavalry.
The 40th Foot was present alongside the 2nd N.I. and 16th Native Infantry forming part of the Central Column.
The Central column advanced to attack where they believed the main enemy force to be located.
However, during the night the Marathas had moved and the British were left surprised as they came under heavy fire from the Maratha Artillery in their new positions.
The central column then received the order to take the battery positions, which they did under continuous heavy fire from shot, grape, canister and chain.
Getting up close and personal, the British engaged the Marathas in hand to hand fighting, both sides taking heavy casualties, they managed to clear the Maratha positions and come out victorious
Few Marathas managed to escape, most chose to fight to the death, total losses for them numbered between 3000-4000 men. The cost for the defeat of the Marathas left 797 men killed, wounded or missing to the British Force.
The recipients of the star would wear the bronze from the very cannons they risked their life to capture.
