Description
Sutlej Medal 1845-6, for Sobraon, Gunner John Wellstead, Bengal Artillery, H.E.I.C.
Officially impressed: “GUNNER J: WELLSTEAD 6th BATn ARTy”
Good preserved condition, only one edge knock to “6th”.
John Wellstead aka John Bishop Wellsteed, was born in Chatham, Kent and worked as a Droper before he enlisted at London for “Unlimited” service with the Honourable East India Company’s European Bengal Army on 6th September 1843.
He embarked on the ship Maria during 1843 to serve in India.
Initially part of the 5th Company 1st Battalion of Bengal Artillery, he served in the Sutlej War with the 6th Battalion, where he he saw service at the penultimate Battle of Sobraon earning the medal, the reverse die reading “Sobraon”
After the end of the Anglo-Sikh he had been promoted to Corporal and was transferred to the Town Major’s List on 15th March 1850 as a Corporal Assistant Overseer.
Following the Sikh War the archives write: “General Order by the Most Noble The Governor General of India in Council, Corporal J. Wellsteed of the 1st Company 6th Battalion of Artillery having passed the term of probationary study in the Civil Engineer College at Roorkee and reported as qualified for the situation being appointed the Superintendent Grand Junk Road for employment in the 1st Division.”
During 1851 he was Promoted to Sergeant, whilst Assistant Overseer in the Department of Public Works.
Married Miss Harriet Agnes Hendry at Chinsurah during 1852.
During 1855 he was granted Permission to purchase his discharge from the service, as he had signed on for “unlimited” service this was the only way to leave the serve before 20 years without dying.
Now a qualified Engineer, he took on a full time job as a Civilian Engineer, some records noting he took part in a tender for East Indian Railway during the 1850s for the “Howrah Workshops Extension” for a cost of 201,158 Rs
During the Indian Mutiny he did not appear to serve but was still living in India working with the Railway Division of the Public Works Department, possibly seeing some service.
He later died in India during 1866, at which time he had become a Partner in the Firm of W.A. Mitchell & Co Shipwrights
