Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Army L.S. & G.C. awarded Troop Sergeant-Major Patrick Nugent, 9th Lancers, a veteran of the battles of Punniar, Sobraon, Chilianwala, Goojerat, the siege of Delhi, Lucknow and relief of Lucknow; he was promoted for gallantry at Sobraon and severely wounded at Badli-ke-Serai in June 1857, and afterwards served as a Yeoman of the Body Guard

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (610 Tp. Serjt. Major Patk. Nugent, 9th Lancers) naming rubbed having been removed from a mount and with partial loss to naming of rank and first name, re-fitted suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, therefore fine £120-£160

Provenance: Paul Denny Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, May 2019.

Patrick Nugent was born in the Parish of Keady, near Newton Hamilton, Armagh, and attested for the 9th Lancers at Newry, County Down, on 10 August 1838, aged 18. He deserted on 9 September 1838, rejoined on 12 June 1840, but was pardoned by Lord Hill and not tried. He deserted again on 29 October 1840, rejoining on 6 May 1841, but this time was tried and imprisoned for two months. After this shaky start, Nugent went on to have a distinguished career. He was present at the battle of Punniar (Bronze Star), and distinguished himself at the battle of Sobraon in the following terms:

‘At least one man of the Regiment had taken a more active personal part in the battle than fell to the lot of his comrades. Private Patrick Nugent, at the moment when the infantry attack went in, had his horse shot under him. He at once joined the 50th Regiment, proceeding to the attack and gallantly entered the enemy entrenchment with the regiment, thus rendering much good service, and showing an example well worth of being followed in the circumstances in which he was placed. He was later promoted to Corporal for his gallantry.’ He went on to serve at the battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat (Medal with 2 clasps, and in the Indian Mutiny (Medal with 3 clasps) during which he was wounded severely above the right hip on the 8th June 1857, at the battle of Badli-ke-Serai. He was discharged at Dublin in April 1865, and was appointed to the Yeomen of the Guard in 1866. He died on 23 May 1892, having added the Jubilee Medal of 1887 to his group. Sold with copied discharge papers.