Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The remarkable family group awarded to the three Beal brothers who all served with the 29th Foot at the battles of Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon, Chilianwala and Goojerat, each receiving identical pairs of medals

Pair: David Beal, 29th Foot, who died in India in 1852
Sutlej 1845-46, for Ferozeshuhur 1845, 1 clasp, Sobraon (David Beale 29th Regt.); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (David Beal, 29th Foot.) both with edge bruises and lightly polished, otherwise very fine or better

Pair: Andrew Beal, 29th Foot, who was wounded at Sobraon and died in India in 1853
Sutlej 1845-46, for Ferozeshuhur 1845, 1 clasp, Sobraon (Andrew Beale 29th Regt.); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Andrew Beal, 29th Foot.) both with edge bruises and lightly polished, otherwise very fine or better

Pair: Alexander Beal, 29th Foot, who was wounded at Sobraon and died in India in 1849
Sutlej 1845-46, for Ferozeshuhur 1845, 1 clasp, Sobraon (Alexander Beale 29th Regt.); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Alexr. Beal, 29th Foot.) both with edge bruises and lightly polished, otherwise very fine or better (6) £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Ron Wright.

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Collection

Provenance: J. and J. Edwards Collection of West Merrylands N.S.W.; Noble Numismatics Sale 107, November 2014.

The family of Beal lived at Burn of Aldbar, near Brechin, in Angus County, midway between Dundee and Aberdeen. William Beal, presumably the eldest, remained on the family farm while his four brothers, David, Andrew, Alexander and Peter joined the army.

1803 David Beal, 2198 Andrew Beal, and 2199 Alexander Beal, all joined the 29th Foot and were in India by the early 1840s. David died of illness on 5 June 1852, aged 33, and was buried at Dinapore. Andrew was wounded at the battle of Sobraon and died on 27 March 1853, aged 27, and was buried at Dinapore. Alexander was wounded at the battle of Sobraon and died on 16 April 1849. Peter Beale also joined the 29th Foot but did not see action in either of the Sikh wars. He died of illness and was buried at Wuzeerabad Cantonments on 27 June 1849, aged 20.

A series of letters written by David, Andrew and Alexander Beal, mostly to their brother William in the period June 1844 to August 1850, is held by the Angus Council Archive. Copies of two of these letter accompany the medals together with other research and correspondence. As all four brothers unfortunately died in service in India, no service papers have survived.