PRIVATE PATRICK THUMPKIN, 1ST BOMBAY EUROPEAN FUSILIERS (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS). Punjab Medal 1848-1849, 1 clasp, Mooltan (officially names, impressed in serifed block capitals: PATk. THUMPKIN, 1st. EUR. FUs.).

PRIVATE PATRICK THUMPKIN, 1ST BOMBAY EUROPEAN FUSILIERS (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS). Punjab Medal 1848-1849, 1 clasp, Mooltan (officially names, impressed in serifed block capitals: PATk. THUMPKIN, 1st. EUR. FUs.). Attractively toned, Good Very Fine, and a scarce confirmed single clasp medal to the regiment.

Medal with single clasp Mooltan scarce. Of the 969 Punjab Medals awarded to the regiment, the medal roll records only 132 medals with one clasp and 124 with no clasps.

Medal accompanied by biographical and service details and copied extract from the Punjab Medal casualty roll, which confirms award of the Punjab Medal with Mooltan clasp only and that Thumpkin was invalided to “Europe”.

Patrick Thumpkin, was born in 1826 in Carlow, Ireland, the son of James and Mary Thumpkin. He enlisted into the 1st Bombay European Regiment at Wexford on 3/3/1845 for unlimited service. At the time of enlistment he gave his home town as Carlow and trade as labourer. Thumpkin sailed for India aboard the Herefordshire, arriving there in 1845. Service details confirm that he was pensioned on 8/5/1849 in “Europe”.

The 1st Bombay European Fusiliers played a prominent part in the taking of Mooltan. During the storming of the fortress of Mooltan, 2nd January 1849, the 1st Bombay Europeans carried the Kooni Boorj breach, where the Queen’s Colour of the regiment was planted by Sergeant (afterwards Major) John Bennett of the regiment, who was awarded a commission for his bravery on this occasion, the pike of the colour being severed by a bullet as he held it. For their services at the storming of Mooltan, the 1st Bombay Europeans were awarded the battle honour “Mooltan”.