An interesting First Afghan War medal awarded to Private Thomas Kelly, 50th Foot, late 31st Foot, who was sentenced by Court Martial to a term of 7 years transportation to Tasmania

Cabul 1842 (*No. 1360. Thomas Kelly. Pt. H.Ms. 31st Regt.*) original fitted with steel clip and bar suspension, extremely fine £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

View
Collection

Thomas Kelly was born at Tipperary, Ireland, and enlisted into the 31st Foot in about 1839. The musters show that he was in hospital for the whole month of October 1842; imprisoned August to 21 September 1845; hospital November 1845; sick at Loodiana January to February 1846; transferred to 50th Foot on 25 March 1846 as Private No. 2728. Kelly was tried by Court Martial at Chatham on 23 December 1848, charged with striking Captain Williams, 50th Regiment, drunkenness and violence, and was sentenced to be transported for 7 years. He was taken on board the hired transport ship Rodney, one of 62 male prisoners received from hulks at Chatham on 2 August 1850. After further stops to collect more prisoners from the hulks at Portsmouth and Cowes, the Rodney set sail from Portland on 23 August with 312 male convicts on board, and arrived at Hobart Town on 28 November, 97 days at sea. Kelly remained in Tasmania, at the penal settlement Port Arthur, for the duration of his sentence, often in trouble for absconding and drunkenness, and on 20 June 1855, his Transportation was extended by eighteen months. His convict record also mentions that he had been court martialled for ‘stabbing a native in India - 40 days’. Sold with various copied records relating to his transportation, including his convict record, and other research.