Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private Patrick Rutledge, 50th Regiment

Punniar Star 1843 (Private Patrick Rutledge 50th Queens Own Regt.); Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 3 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon (Patrick Rutlege 50th Regt.) considerable pitting from star, fine or better (2) £800-£1,000

Patrick Rutlege/Rutledge was born in the Parish of Strinorlan, County Donegal, and enlisted for the 50th Foot at Londonderry on 12 April 1831. He embarked for New South Wales on 14 November 1833, and landed in the colony on 21 May 1834, serving there for almost seven years. Being stationed at Windsor N.S.W. On 30 August 1834, two companies of the 50th were ordered to proceed to North Island. Captain Johnstone and 65 men were embarked at Sydney aboard H.M.S. Alligator and the schooner Isabella for the Taranaki coast of New Zealand. This punitive expedition, of which Patrick Rutlege was a member, was sent to rescue a Mrs Guard, her two children, and nine sailors, all of whom had been captured by natives following the wrecking of the barque Harriet near Cape Egmont. On 8 October the British force landed on the beach near Waimate Pa on the south side of the Kapuni River, and fired heavily on the Maoris. The prisoners were released after sharp skirmishing and the hill fort of Waimate Pa was captured. The troops also captured Orangi-tuapeka Pa on the northern side of the Kapuni River. This was the first occasion that British troops came into conflict with Maori warriors.

From December 1834 three companies were sent to Launceston, Van Diemans Lamd, and other detachments were sent from Windsor to serve at Liverpool, Georges River, Sydney, Port Stephens, Wangello, Berrima, and Bong Bong. Patrick Rutlege remained at Windsor from 13 November 1834 until July 1835, when Major Anderson of the 50th was appointed commandant of the convict settlement on Norfolk Island. Patrick Rutlege served at Norfolk Island until November 1838, joining the rest of his regiment at Sydney early in December.

He landed in the East Indies on 8 May 1841, and was ‘in action at Punniar on 29 Decr. 1843 under the Command of Major-General Grey C.B. for which he received a Bronze Star’. He ‘served with the Army of the Sutlej in 1845 and 1846, was present in the actions of Moodkee 18 Decr, Ferozeshuhur 21st & 22nd Decr. 1845, Aliwal 28 January and Sobraon 10th February 1846, for which services he received a Medal and three clasps. He was ‘wounded at Sobraon 10 February 1846.’ Patrick Rutlege was discharged at Preston Barracks on 26 May 1852. Sold with copied discharge papers and comprehensive extracts from Muster rolls and Pay-Lists for the period 1831 to 1852.