Description
Scinde Medal, Meeanee, Hyderabad 1842, Private James Byrnes, 22nd Regiment of Foot, aka the Cheshire Regiment.
Engraved in the correct recognised style of the regiment: “JAs BYRNES 22nd REGt”
A classic example, having seen service at both the initial Battle of Miani and the following Battle of Hyderabad, honours earned solely by this British Regiment, alongside the HEIC Indian Army & Indian Navy.
Fitted with a Silver Clip and Bar suspension, as commonly seen on 22nd Foot Scinde Medals, Toned.
As noted in various publications such as D. Hasting Irwin’s War Medals Book published in 1899: “A steel clasp was originally issued with it; but Sir John Pennefather, Colonel of the 22nd Regiment, at his own expense, substituted a massive silver bar for suspension to the men of his regiment, but of similar design to the steel one.”
Shown on the 1841 & 1851 Army Census serving with the 22nd Regiment.
Service Number 1109 Private James Byrnes is first shown shortly before the outbreak of the war, serving with the 22nd Foot “At Sea and Camp Near Poona” as they were arriving in India during 1841.
He is later shown 10 years on during 1851 still serving with the 22nd (The Cheshire) Regiment of Foot stationed in Dagshai India.
He would see further active service in the “North West Frontier Boree Valley Expedition of 1853” with the 1st Bn 22nd Foot.
To which he would receive the IGS bar Northwest Frontier, which he did not receive until 1880 almost 40 years after he got this first medal, as it could a long time to recognise the men’s service after these events with the clasp.
The 22nd Cheshire Regiment, would earn about 438 clasps for their involvement as the only British Regiment present in the Bori Valley Expedition which lasted between 29th November 1853 until 24th February 1854 in the Bori Valley of the NWF, engaged against the Adam Khel Afridi Tribesmen, under the command of Colonel S.B. Boileau, and his forth of about 1740 troops.
“Expedition against the Jowaki Afridies of the Bori Villages in 1853.
When the Afridis of the Kohat Pass misbehaved in 1850, the Jowaki Afridis offered the use of their route instead; but they turned out worse than the others, and in 1853 a force of 1700 British traversed their country and destroyed their stronghold at Bori.
The Jowaki Afridis are a clan of the Ada Khel, who inhabit the country lying between the Kohat Pass and the river Indus.”
It is not known for sure but he likely was also employed following the Scinde War in the 1844-55 Campaign in the Southern Mahrattta Country under Major Delamotte CB, where they took part in the pursuit and taking of the Forts Punella and Pownghur.”
