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Sutlej Campaign Medal (Moodkee): CM.1446-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Artist: Wyon, William
Ruler: Victoria regina (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

In the early nineteenth century the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab bordered the possessions of the British East India Company, and so a succession crisis from 1839 onwards that caused persistent mutinies among the Sikh soldiery caused the Company to build up its forces on the border at Ferozepur. Diplomatic relations rapidly deteriorated and on 11 December 1845 the Sikh army crossed the Sutlej River in a pre-emptive attack on the British. Initially the British feared imminent defeat, as they were outnumbered and undersupplied, but the Sikhs did not press home their advantage before the British managed to reinforce their position, whereafter they drove the Sikhs back in a series of decisive battles. The subsequent treaty of Lahore, of 22 February 1846, forced the Sikh Kingdom to surrender Kashmir to the East India Company and established a British resident in Lahore; it also resulted in the gift of the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria. Sikh resentment of the British intrusion resulted in a new outbreak of war in 1847.
In April 1846 the East India Company instituted a medal for participation in the war of 1845-1846. Four issues were made, differing in the name of the battle inscribed in the reverse exergue; the recipient was given that whose inscription was the first of those in which he had fought. Bars were issued for his battle honours subsequent to this. This medal was awarded to Private Patrick Callaghan of the 50th Regiment, who was among the British forces who first met with the Sikh attack at Mudki on 18 December 1845, and then went on to fight at the costly but inconclusive battle at Ferozeshah on 21 December, an attack on a Sikh bridgehead at Aliwal on 28 January 1846 and a final battle at Sobraon on 10 February, where the Sikhs, under heavy pressure from the British, found that the bridge that was their line of retreat had broken behind them. None surrendered.
Lester Watson acquired Callaghan's medal at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.3 mm
Weight: 45.89 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

Production date: AD 1846

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Victory standing facing left holding wreath with war spoils at feet; exergue bears inscription "MOODKER / 1846"

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1446-2009
Primary reference Number: 141540
Watson Catalogue: 366
Ordering: M-0329
Previous object number: LW.0329
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Sutlej Campaign Medal (Moodkee)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141540 Accessed: 2024-11-25 00:00:06

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141540 |title=Sutlej Campaign Medal (Moodkee) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-25 00:00:06|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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