Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (P. Whelan, 16th Lancers) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, good very fine £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson.

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Ex Watters 1911 and Hamilton-Smith 1927.

Patrick Whelan was born in the Parish of Killorn, Ballinsloe, County Galway, and enlisted at Athlone, County Roscommon, on 24 January 1812, for the 17th Light Dragoons, aged 15 years and six months. Not finding the service to his liking, he deserted one month later but rejoined his regiment on 13 November 1812. He served in India for just over 21 years, from July 1814, and during this time saw much active service. From November 1815 to May 1816, he served with Colonel East’s Field Force in Katawa Kutch and Cahamandal, at the capture of Angar and the forts of Boog and Dungee. From 1816 to 1818, he served with Major-General Sir W. Grant Keir’s Division of the Deccan Army during the Pindari war, and with Sir J. Malcolm during the Maharatta war. From December 1818 until May 1819, he served with Colonel Huskinson’s Force in the province of Khandeesh, and in the following year with Lieutenant-Colonel Stanhope’s Force in Kutch, form May to December. During 1821, Whelan served with a detachment in Kattawa under Captain McNeill. The 17th Light Dragoons were ordered back to England in 1822, but Whelan volunteered for the 16th Lancers on 25 July in order to remain in India. He served with the 16th Lancers at the siege of Bhurtpoor, during which the 16th became the first British regiment to use lances in a cavalry charge. Whelan was promoted to Corporal on 23 July 1826, and to Sergeant on 17 June 1828. Whelan remained in India until the end of September 1835, and suffered severely from dysentery, fever, rheumatism and dyspepsia during his time with the 16th Lancers. He returned to England on account of ill-health and was discharged at Chatham on 12 July 1836. Sold with copy discharge papers.