Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Thos. Tadd. 1st Bn. 13th Lt. Infy.) nearly extremely fine £260-£300

Thomas Tadd was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and attested for the 1st Battalion, 13th Light Infantry at Bath in August 1854. He served with the Battalion during the Indian Mutiny and was severely wounded at Toolsepore, 23 December 1858:

‘On the 6th December [1858], the regimental headquarters rejoined Brigadier Rowcroft’s force, which, on the 23rd of that month, routed a large body of the enemy under Bala Rao and other rebel leaders, at Toolsepore.

At the commencement of the action, Lord Mark Kerr was directed to deploy on the right of Captain Cadell’s battery, and advance against a village occupied by some of the rebel force under Bala Rao, on the left centre of the enemy’s line. His Lordship, finding that the left of the village outflanked his troops considerably, advanced covered by two companies, one in skirmishing order, the other in support on the right flank in echelon of sections to that flank. When the skirmishers arrived within fifty paces, having been reinforced by half of the supporting company, Lieutenant Gilbert, in command, ordered his men to fix bayonets, and with his subaltern, Lieutenant Sanderson, carried the place in gallant style, bayoneting or shooting between thirty and forty gunners, and taking one six-pounder brass gun, with limber complete. Most of the defenders of the line of this village retreated at first very steadily; one sepoy, close to Lieutenant Gilbert, as he walked away, shooting himself dead. By the time the Regiment came up, though immediately afterwards, the whole place had been abandoned. On clearing the left flank of the village, a large rebel force of cavalry and infantry was discovered, said to be the troops of the Ranee of Toolsepore, estimated at between three and four thousand men, with one gun, which they had withdrawn to their rear, under cover of dohl and wood, some thousand yards to the right front of the British.

Lord Mark Kerr threw out skirmishers to cover his right flank, and keep the enemy at a distance. The 13th advanced in direct echelon from the left. When this was done, the rebels had disappeared, having moved farther towards the right rear of the advancing troops, and no more was seen of them. Brigadier Rowcroft, C.B., came up at the same time, and, by his orders, an advance in column was made towards Toolsepore.’ (Historical Record of the Thirteenth, Prince Albert’s Light Infantry refers)

Tadd was ‘severely wounded by a musket ball in the action at Toolsepore… in the right shin bone - the bone was splintered, but no separation of the pieces took place. The bullet is still supposed to be in the limb, it has never been extricated. Even now in December 1860 there is much wasting of the leg.’ (Service papers refer)

Tadd was discharged ‘Medically Unfit’ as a result of his wound, 20 September 1861, having served 6 years and 339 days with the Colours.