Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Battle of Deig (T. Hughes, 76th Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, fitted with scroll engraved silver ribbon brooch, edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine and very rare £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of British Orders, Decorations and Medals formed by the late Fred Rockwood.

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Only 47 clasps issued for Battle of Deig of which only five were issued as single clasp medals.

Thomas Hughes was born on 2 November 1784 in the Parish of St. Mary's near Dublin. By trade he was a Labourer and he was illiterate. On his 16th birthday he enlisted into His Majesty's 88th Regiment and served with this Regiment in India from 17 July 1801. He was subsequently transferred to H.M. 76th Regiment and he first appears in the musters of that Regiment in October 1804. Private Hughes was present with the 76th at the Battle of Deig on 13 November 1804, but did not take part at the subsequent Capture of Deig in December, as he was then stationed at Agra. However, the musters infer that he did participate at the Siege of Bhurtpoor in January and February 1805, at which the outnumbered British besieging force was severely defeated with very heavy casualties (over 3200 killed and wounded). Hughes was transferred on 25 June 1805 to H.M. 75th Regiment at Futtypore, and on 25 April 1806 he was transferred again (in a volunteer draft) to the 24th Dragoons at Cawnpore for 'unlimited service'. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in June 1814 and to Sergeant in September 1816. Sergeant Hughes was discharged from the 24th Dragoons on 10 May 1818 in consequence of 'being transferred to the Honourable East India Company's service', having served for 17 years 190 days in the British Army, the latter 16 years 298 days of that time in India. His army service was described as 'good'. Sold with copied discharge papers and muster roll details.