Description
Maharajpoor Star, 29th Dec 1843, Private John Tabble, 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot, who was Killed in Action in the famous charge of the 24th Foot at Chillianwala in 1849.
Officially engraved: “Private John Tabble H.M. 39th Regt”
Good preserved condition with custom silver suspension bar.
Private John Tabble, 39th Foot, 9th Foot and 24th Foot, joined the Army with the 39th Foot in 1832 and set off for India.
When it came time to return home, he chose to stay joining the 9th Foot. When the 9th Foot was due home, he once again volunteered for further service joining the 24th Foot in December 1846.
During 1848-9, he would take part in the “Punjab” War, where he saw service at the Battle of Chillianwala, where he met his death becoming one of the many casualties in the 24th Foot’ “gallant but foolhardy” attack.
During the Anglo-Sikh War, at the Battle of Chillianwala, the 24th Foot arrived upon the enemy prematurely but, under instructions not to fire, they fixed bayonets and made a gallant charge against the deadly enemy artillery.
In this “gallant but foolhardy attack” the regiment would suffer 515 casualties including 238 men killed.
The National Army Museum holds an excellent colour lithograph from a drawing done by Lieut J H Archer, 96th Regiment of Foot, who was present at the action, of the 24th foot making their famous charge “through jungle and water”.
You can click here to see the lithograph on the National Army Museum’s Website, which is accompanied by the following description:
“Coloured lithograph by Day and Son after E Walker from a drawing on the spot by Lieutenant J H Archer, 96th Regiment. Published by R Ackermann, 1849 (c).
On 13 January 1849, near the village of Chilianwala, north-west of Lahore, General Lord Hugh Gough, Commander-in-Chief India, led his army into the first major battle of the 2nd Sikh War (1848-1849). The 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot and the 25th and 45th Regiments of Bengal Native Infantry advanced to attack the guns of the Sikh Army. Outstripping the native infantry, the 24th Regiment arrived upon the enemy prematurely but, under instructions not to fire, they fixed bayonets and charged the deadly artillery. In this gallant but foolhardy attack, the regiment suffered 515 casualties including 238 killed.
The battle almost ended in disaster when Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Pope, commanding the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, gave an indistinct instruction which was interpreted as ordering a retreat: the brigade’s flight was just halted by an Army chaplain. The enormous casualties which were inflicted on a larger and better-equipped force changed Indian perceptions of the invincibility of the British. However, the Sikh Army failed to drive home their advantage, so Gough claimed the battle as his victory.”
John Tabble was a Shoemaker from Fakenham, when he first enlisted on 19th December 1832.
The 39th Foot had recently moved over from Australia to India in July 1832.
John might have taken part in some of the “Various skirmishes in the Spring of 1834 during the Coorg War” that the 39th Foot took part in as their first war in India.
This war did not warrant any medals to be issued. (A followup to the war was the Coorg Rebellion of 1837 in which a few medals were issued to HEIC soldiers)
John would then see action at the Battle of Maharajpore, where this medal was earned, during which the 39th Foot made a determined infantry charge at the enemy’s guns.
After the end of their about 15 years in India, the regiment was due to return back home to England around 1846.
John was one of those who volunteered to remain in India and Transfer to another Regiment, joining the 9th Foot.
However his new unit was also due to return home setting off at Calcutta on 13th March 1847, so John chose once again to remain in India, joining the 24th Foot.
He volunteered from the 9th Foot to join the 24th Foot on 1st December 1846 at Allahabad.
His belongings were sent to his next of kin, his Aunt Mary Sadler in St Peters, Norfolk.
