Description
Punniar Star, 29th December 1843, Private Peter Lavery, 50th Queen’s Own Regiment, who later served in all 4 battles in the Sutlej War being wounded and invalided.
Officially engraved in running script: “Private Peter Laverly 50th Queen’s Own Reg”
With copy service papers.
Also entitled to a very rare Sutlej, reverse Moodkee, 3 bars, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon.
Peter Lavery was born in Liverpool, Lancashire during 1823.
He attested for service on 27th March 1840 with the 50th Foot.
“His conduct has been Good.
He served with the Left Wing of the Army of Exercise under Major General Sir J. Grey CB and was present in the action at Punniar.
Served also in the Army of the Sutlej in 1845 and 1846, and was present in the actions at Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sobraon and was wounded in the latter.”
Following the end of the Sutlej War he was invalided, his papers note that he was wounded at Sobraon and earlier at Aliwal, the medical notes read:
“Grape Shot wound of the left foot in action at Aliwal on 28th February 1846, invalided by the Medical Committee at Landour being unfit for further service.”
A gruesome note from some years later in 1861 reads: “Gun Shot injury of the metatarsal bone of the left great toe, the ball passing through and escaping at the sole of the foot.”
He was full invalided and discharged on 30th September 1846 following 6 years and 187 days of service, of which 5 years and 88 days were spent overseas in India aka “The East Indies” where he fought through the Gwalior Campaign, to earn this star for service at the Battle of Punniar, followed by receiving an envious maximum entitlement Sutlej Medal, for service at all 4 of the clasped battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal and the penultimate Battle of Sobraon.
After his discharge he returned home to Liverpool, shown living in Rathbone street with his wife Ellen during 1851 shown as a “Pensioner”.
