Description
Sutlej Medal 1845-6, for Ferozeshuhur, bar Sobraon, Gunner Francis Gough, 3rd Brigade Horse Artillery, who was awarded the Lord Clive Pension for his wounds at the Battle of Sobraon.
Officially impressed: “GUNNER F: GOUGH 3RD BRIGADE H. AY”
Francis Gough was wounded in action at the Battle of Sobraon, on 3rd July 1855 he was admitted to pension having been discharged from “General Debility Wounded in the Right Leg at the Battle of Sobraon”
A rare confirmed casualty to a Gunner, only Officers were typically traced on the various casualty lists available as well as fatal casualties, who were mentioned in the London Gazette, however the “Other Ranks” who were wounded in action are difficult to trace.
Francis Gough was born circa 1813 in the small village of Nobber or Castletown Kilpatrick, in County Meath, Ireland.
He first took the opportunity when he was 20 years old of signing on for “Unlimited Service” with the Honourable East India Company’s European Army, when he signed on with a “Captain Grange” at Dublin.
He enlisted on 31st January 1833, and joined the Depot on 13th February 1833.
It as not long before he embarked for India on 15th July 1833 on the Ship “Bengal Merchant”.
Francis went on to serve for 22 years in the HEIC Artillery.
He was 42 years old and serving with the 3rd Company 6th Battalion of Artillery when he was finally discharged from his unlimited contract, his conduct was simply said to be “Bad”.
The reason for discharge was recorded as “General Debility, Wounded in the right leg at the Battle of Sobraon”.
He was given his discharge and admitted to the “Lord Clive Military Pension Fund” on 3rd July 1855, and was to return home to Ireland, and live in Navan, County Drogheda.
He was recorded by the Royal Hospital Chelsea as an Out-Pensioner “Foreign and Colonial”.
During the Battle of Sobraon, Gunner Francis Gough was one of only 33 “Rank and File” who were wounded in the Battle.
The regimental history recalls total casualties as:
“Lieutenant Faithfull, of the 1st Troop 2nd Brigade, was killed by cannon shot. Major Grant was wounded in the arm.
The total of Killed and Wounded in the different troops and batteries was, Killed: 1 European Officer, 3 Rank and File, 3 Syces and 17 horses.
Wounded: 1 European Officer, 1 Sergeant, 33 Rank and file, 5 Lascars, 5 Syces and 23 horses.”
Since there are no published lists of the names of the casualties to the other ranks present, it is unusual to be able to confirm the casualties via his Lord Clive Pension Register entry.
