Description
Punjab Medal 1848-9, 2 bars, Goojerat, Chilianwala, Private John Charles Elderkin, 3rd King’s Own Light Dragoons, later 12th Royal Lancers.
Officially impressed: “J.C. Elderkin, 3rd Lt Dragns”
With copy service papers.
John saw significant fighting during his Army Career. Enlisting during 1844 he was sent on to India taking part in the First Anglo Sikh War, aka Sutlej in 1844-5, where he charged with the 3rd Light Dragoons at Moodkee and being later present at Sobraon.
He was there at “Mudki” on 18th December 1845, the 3rd King’s Own Light Dragoons would perform with extreme bravery, the action earning them the nickname of the “Mudki Wallahs”, the defeated Sikhs naming them in their own language as Shaitan-Ke-Bachche, translated as “The Devil’s Children.”
Following on from this he would earn this medal for his part in the Second Anglo Sikh, the “Punjab” War of 1848-49, where again the 3rd Light Dragoons performed some magnificent cavalry charges showing themselves to be possibly the finest cavalry unit to take part in the campaign.
He was still around in India during the Indian Mutiny, where he would take part in the Central India Campaign under General Whitlock in the Saugor Field Division this time in the 12th Royal Lancers where his division took the City of Banda after engaging the 9000 strong column lead by the Nawab of Banda, Ali Bahadur II, one of the great rebel leaders of the war.
John Charles Elderkin was born in Chelsea, London, Middlesex circa 1825.
Having been a Servant, he signed on with the 3rd King’s Own Light Dragoons on 9th October 1844, aged 19 years 5 months old.
He would go on to serve in the Army for 16 years and 10 days, of which 10 years and 6 months were spent on service overseas, particularly in India.
This consisted of 7 Months at Scutari, and 9 Years and 11 Months in India.
He was discharged “At his own request, free with deferred pension of 4d per diem and by authority dated Horse Guards 26th December 1860.”
His conduct:
“Has been good, and he is in possession of 1 good conduct badge.
Tried by a Regimental Court Martial on 1st September 1854 and convicted for absence without leave and making away with necessaries.
Tried by a Regimental Court Martial on 26th August 1857, and convicted for absence without leave and habitual drunkenness.”
Enlisted into the 3rd Light Dragoons as a Private on 9th October 1844.
Tried and Imprisoned from 29th August 1854 to 1st October 1854.
Then transferred over to the 12th Royal Lancers on 1st September 1855.
Being tried and imprisoned again from 22nd August to 30th September 1857.
He finished out his service on 31st December 1860 to discharge.
During his time in the 12th Lancers, he took part in the Indian Mutiny, earning the medal with clasp Central India.
The 12th Royal Lancers rode under Major General Whitlock in the Saugor Field Division in the Central India campaign.
With the Saugor Field Division, they saw good service alongside the Central India Field Force, being ordered to cross the Bundelkhand from Jubbulpore to Banda.
In 1858 the Saugor Field Division joined up with the Nagpore Movable Column and in April engaged the 9,000 men strong column of the Nawab of Banda, defeating Nawab’s army and capturing the city of Banda and later the city of Kirwi.
