Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Lieut. H. F. Gardner, 8th. Bengal N.I.) minor edge bruising and edge nicks, nearly extremely fine £600-£800

Provenance: Lee Bishop Collection, Spink, July 2009.

Henry Ffarrington Gardner was born in Malta in 1827, the fifth and youngest son of General the Hon. W. H. Gardner, and the grandson of the first Lord Gardner. He was commissioned Ensign in the 1st Native Infantry in 1845, before transferring to 8th Native Infantry the following year, and served throughout the Punjab Campaign with the regiment, where he was present during the first siege of Mooltan, the attack on Dharmsala, the action of Surajkhund, the siege and capture of Mooltan, and the battle of Goojerat. He was posted as Officer Commanding 6th Company of Pioneers in June 1850; his services were placed at the disposal of the Civil Engineer of the Punjab Circle for employment on the Peshawar Road, and he was then appointed Executive Officer in charge of the second division of that road, with his headquarters at Kharian, one march from Jhelum on the route to Goojerat. He continued in this position until summer 1854, when he went on medical leave for six months; almost immediately upon his return to Jhelum, he died, on 16 January 1855. He is buried in the Cemetery at Jhelum.