INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL RELIEF OF LUCKNOW & LUCKNOW DRUMMER KEW 23RD R.W.FUSILIERS.

Offered is a Indian Mutiny Medal (1857 -59) 2 clasps, LUCKNOW, RELIEF OF LUCKNOW, impressed named DRMR CHAS KEW 1ST BN 23RD R.W.FUSRS with period buckle fitting (lacking pin at rear). Comes with copies of service record, census, medal roll & pension ledger.

Charles Kew was born in Ellisfield, Basingstoke, in 1840. He was working as a labourer when he enlisted with the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Woolside on the 20/11/1855, he had just turned 15 at the time (5ft tall) his service number being 5213. His service up to the 19/9/1858 did not count as he was still under age. He served as a drummer from 16th July 58 – 30th September 1861, when he reverted to Private for the remainder of his service, discharging 19/11/1868 time expired. He re-joined at Winchester with the Rifle Brigade 10/6/1869 – 27/12/1870 with the service number 1442, unfortunately injuries from service caught up with him and he was discharged 24/1/1871 due to paralysis attributed to long service in India. Of his service of 11 years 201 days (a further 3 years not counted as he was a boy), 11 years was spent in India. The 1911 census records him as Army pensioner living in Ellisfield, dying there in 1919.

23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers Indian service.

In 1857 they embarked for China, but the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny caused them to be diverted, and they joined Sir Colin Campbell’s relieving force near Lucknow. During the evacuation Lieutenant Hackett and Band Boy George Monger, aged only seventeen, brought in a seriously wounded corporal whilst “exposed to a heavy musketry fire”. For this display of gallantry both were awarded the Victoria Cross. In March 1858 the Battalion participated in the recapture of Lucknow, earning high praise for its part in the capture of the Residency with “the 23rd Fusiliers charging through the gateway, and driving the enemy before them at the point of the bayonet”