Description
Sutlej Medal 1845-6, reverse Aliwal, bar Sobraon, Private Elisha Underwood, 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment, died shortly after the war at Umballa during September 1846.
Officially impressed: “Elisha Underwood 53rd Regt”
Entitlement confirmed on the medal roll.
Elisha Underwood, a rather uncommon classic Biblical first name, was born circa 1820.
He had joined the 53rd as early as 1841, shown on the Army Index stationed in Plymouth, with service number 1350.
He served throughout the Sutlej War, the regiment fighting first at Aliwal, this battle recorded on the reverse design of their medals, and with the clasp “Sobraon” for the final battle that won the Anglo-Sikh War, to 2 main clasped battles that the 53rd fought in during the war.
However following the war, he was alongside a number of others from the regiment died, only in the last week or so at least 15-20 men had died.
He died at Umballa, Bengal on 6th September 1846 aged only about 27.
Some extracts from the Regimental History regarding his battles:
ALIWAL
“On the 28th of January the Major General determined to attack the Sikhs under Runjoor Singh in their strong position at Aliwal, and the result was a splendid victory. Runjoor Singh’s camp, with all his baggage, ammunition and stores, fell into the hands of the victors and the left wing of the Sikh Army was thus almost completely disorganised.
Her Majesty’s 53rd Regt and the 30th Native Infantry, formed the Third Brigade, under Brigadier Wilson, and were opposed upon the left to the ‘Aieen’ troops called ‘Avitables’ (The Sikhs under command of the Italian General Paolo Avitable), when the conflict was fiercely raging.
The enemy, driven back on his left and centre, endeavoured to hold his right to cover the passage of the river, and strongly occupied the village of Bhoondree, which was carried by the 53rd at the point of the Bayonet: the regiment then moved forward, in support of the 30th N.I., by the right of the village.
After expressing his thanks to Lt Colonel Phillips of the 53rd, Major General Sir Harry Smith added in his official despatch:
‘I have only to report upon Her Majesty’s 53rd, a young regiment, but veterans in daring gallantry and regularity; and Lt Col Phillips bravery and coolness attracted the attention of myself and every Staff Officer I sent to him.’ “
The 53rd had a tough time coming up against the “Aieen” “at the point of the bayonet” led by the rather oddly placed Italian General Paolo Avitabile aka Abu Tabela, an old Neapolitan-Italian Soldier who following his service under Napoleon at Waterloo drifted to the Middle East being decorated by the Shah of Persia before he caught the eye of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Punjab becoming his General, it was he who introduced European tactics to the Sikh Army. He had recently retired back to Italy but was “said to have congratulated himself on the brave stand the Sikhs made, attributable in a great degree to his instruction”.
SOBRAON
The part the FIFTY-THIRD sustained in the conflict cannot be better expressed than in the words of the despatch of the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Hugh Gough:—
“At nine o’clock, Brigadier Stacy’s brigade, supported on either flank by Captains Horseford’s and Fordyce’s batteries, and Lieut.-Colonel Lane’s troop of horse artillery, moved to the attack in admirable order. The infantry and guns aided each other correlatively. The former marched steadily on in line, which they halted only to correct when necessary. The latter took up successive positions at the gallop, until at length they were within three hundred yards of the heavy batteries of the Sikhs; but notwithstanding the regularity and coolness, and scientific character of this assault, which Brigadier Wilkinson well supported, so hot was the fire of cannon, musketry, and zumboorucks kept up by the Khalsa troops, that it seemed for some moments impossible that the entrenchments could be won under it; but soon persevering gallantry triumphed, and the whole army had the satisfaction to see the gallant Brigadier Stacy’s soldiers driving the Sikhs in confusion before them within the area of their encampment.
The tenth foot, under Lieut.-Colonel Franks, now for the first time brought into serious contact with the enemy, greatly distinguished themselves. This regiment never fired a shot until it had got within the works of the enemy. The onset of Her Majesty’s FIFTY-THIRD was as gallant and effective. The forty-third and fifty-ninth native infantry, brigaded with them, emulated both in cool determination.”
Allusion was also made to the FIFTY-THIRD in the General Order of the 14th of February, by the Right Honorable the Governor-General of India, in which it was stated:—
“Her Majesty’s tenth, FIFTY-THIRD, and eightieth regiments, with the thirty-third, forty-third, fifty-ninth, and sixty-third native infantry, moving at a firm and steady pace, never fired a shot till they had passed the barriers opposed to them, a forbearance much to be commended, and most worthy of constant imitation, to which may be attributed the success of their effort, and the small loss they sustained.”
