The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Meeanee 1843 (T. Rooney, O:S: H:C:V: Satellite) nearly extremely fine and very rare

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Ex Gray 1920.

On 15 February 1843 at nine a.m., the British Residency at Hyderabad was treacherously attacked by an overwhelming force of Belooches. The Residency was protected on three sides by a low wall, and the remaining side by the steamer PLANET on the river, at 500 yards distance. The garrison acting as escort to the Resident, Major James Outram, numbered only 100 men of the 22nd Foot. This small force, assisted by the PLANET, kept the enemy at bay for four hours until lack of ammunition forced abandonment of the position. The steamer SATELLITE arrived shortly after the commencement of this attack, but without the expected reinforcements or additional supplies of ammunition. Both vessels gave effective covering fire whilst Captain Conway, 22nd Foot, brought all his men from the compound to the safety of their iron hulls. The SATELLITE proceeded to the wood station three miles up river and obtained a sufficiency of fuel for both vessels. The PLANET, meanwhile, remained behind and took off a barge, which was moored close to the Agency, under exposure to three artillery pieces and much small arms fire now brought to bear on her.
The crews of PLANET and SATELLITE did not take part directly in the battle of Meeanee on 17 February 1843. On the previous night they were detached with two hundred Sepoys aboard, under Major Outram, to set fire to a wood in which it was thought that the left flank of the attacking Belooches was posted. This operation was concluded, but the enemy had moved some eight miles distance. Sir Charles Napier was “..strongly inclined to think that this circumstance had some [morale] effect on the enemy..”.

Ordinary Seaman Thomas Rooney is confirmed on the medal roll which also shows that he died in February 1844. Medals for Meeanee were issued to 20 European recipients from the SATELLITE, and 18 from the PLANET. The Natives aboard the two steamers were issued with unnamed medals.