Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ghuznee 1839 (Richd. Wilding 17th Regt.) naming impressed in reverse centre, original suspension, small edge bruise, otherwise good very fine £800-1000

Richard Wilding was born in the Parish of Preston, Lancashire. A weaver by occupation, he attested for the 17th Regiment on 11 January 1826, aged 18 years. After serving at home, he sailed with the regiment, in 1830, for New South Wales, Australia, where he remained for 6 years 4 months, during which time the regiment was stationed in Tasmania, Paramatta and Sydney.

In March 1837 the regiment sailed for India where it later took part in the Afghanistan campaign of 1839. Wilding was present at the storm and capture of Ghuznee, 23 July 1839 and of Khelat, 13 November 1839. At Ghuznee, the 17th Regiment was conspicuous in the storming and assault, which was effected with little loss to the regiment, only six rank and file being wounded. At the storming of Khelat on 13 November, the 2nd and 17th British and 31st Bengal Regiments charged into the town and after fierce hand-to-hand fighting the citadel was captured and Mehra Khan killed. The 17th had six rank and file killed, and one officer and thirty-two other ranks wounded.

Soon after the capture of Khelat, the 17th returned to India, arriving back in Poona in the summer of 1840. On the way back Wilding was in one of the four companies, together with the headquarters party, which were wrecked on board the transport ship Hanna on 17 March 1840 on a sandbank off the mouth of the Indus. They were re-embarked on 27 March on the steamer Bernice. Following his return to Poona, Wilding was, on 3 September 1840, assessed as suffering from ‘chronic pectoral disease’ which was ‘attributable to circumstances connected with shipwreck in March 1840 when convalescent from Fever’. He was disqualified from military service in India and his discharge was verified by a Regimental Board at Poona on 7 November 1840. On his return to England he was found to be ‘unfit for service and likely to be permanently disqualified for military duty being affected with obstinate chronic hepatitis.’ His final discharge was approved at Horse Guards on 11 August 1841.

During the course of his military career, he deserted, 15 September-27 December 1829 and was imprisoned, 27 December 1829-26 March 1830; he received further periods of imprisonment during April-May 1833 and October 1835-February 1836. His character was consequently described as ‘indifferent’.

Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.