Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private J. Giles, 9th Lancers

Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846, no clasp (John Giles 9th. Lancers); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (J. Giles, 9th. Lancers.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £700-£900

John Giles was born in Newington, London, in 1823, and attested for the 3rd Light Dragoons 1841, before transferring to the 9th Lancers April 1842. He was discharged at Chatham on 22 August 1854, after 13 years and 41 days’ service, of which 11 years were spent in India. His discharge papers note that ‘his character had been described as good. Had served in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-6, and was present at the battle of Sobraron, 10 February 1846, also in the Punjab Campaign in 1848-9, and was present at the passage of Chenab, 4 December 1848 and the battle of Chillianwallah, 13 January 1848 and Gujerat 21 February 1849.’

The medical report on his service papers gives further clue as to his discharge: ‘I certify that I consider Private John Giles to be unfit for further service in India inconsequence of a strong tendency to abdominal hernia, caused by a wound received on the night of the 1 July, 1851 at Ambala, while attempting to leave his barracks with a glass bottle concealed under his jacket – by falling on the bottle it broke and inflicted a dangerous wound.’

In March 1893 Giles was awarded a special campaign pension of 9 pence a day.

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