PRIVATE ROBERT COULTER, 27TH (INNISKILLING) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION ROYAL IN

PRIVATE ROBERT COULTER, 27TH (INNISKILLING) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS). Indian Mutiny Medal, no clasp (officially impressed: 3297 ROBt., COULTER. H Ms. 27th. REGt.). Almost Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by 3 pages copied discharge papers, copy medal roll confirming medal and extract from the regimental history.

Robert Coulter was issued with an officially named Indian Mutiny Medal with “late issue” naming (i.e. including regimental number) because the men of the 27th Foot were initially refused a medal for the Indian Mutiny, and it was only after much lobbying and a considerable passage of time that men from the regiment were awarded a medal.

The Indian Mutiny Medal claims for the 27th Foot, some 834 in number, are contained in three rolls: Effective Officers (i.e. still serving), listing 7 officers and dated Dover 29/7/1868; Effective Men, numbering approximately 289 men, dated London 26/6/1868; and Non-Effective Officers and Men (dead, retired, discharged, etc) numbering approximately 538 claims, dated London 26/6/1868. Private Coulter’s name is contained in the list of Non-Effective Men, which records him as being discharged by 26/6/1868.

Robert Coulter was born in the parish of Blaris, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. He enlisted into the 27th Regiment at Lurgan on 15/11/1855. At the time of enlistment he was 22 years old and gave his trade as that of damask weaver. Coulter never rose above the rank of Private and was discharged at Shorncliff on 11/8/1866, Coulter having purchased his discharge after 10 years and 269 days service with the colours. Papers confirm that, in addition to service at home, Coulter saw service in India for 9 years and 3 months. At the time of discharge Coulter’s conduct and character whilst serving was described as having been “very good”, Coulter giving his intended place of residence at the time of discharge as Belfast.

During the Mutiny officers and men from the 27th Foot saw service in the Peshawar Valley in 1857. Whilst there they were witness to the mass execution of some 40 mutineers from the 55th Native Infantry, who were executed in the “traditional” Indian manner, being strapped to the muzzles of guns and blown to pieces.

Whilst stationed in the Peshawar Valley, a number of men from the 27th Foot volunteered for service with what became known as the Peshawar Light Horse. That unit was raised by Captain Fane of the 87th Foot and had a total strength of 2 officers, 4 sergeants and 84 men, mounted on horses from disbanded Indian cavalry regiments. The regimental history of the 27th Foot records that the regiment provided 3 sergeants, 1 drummer and 57 privates for service with the Peshawar Light Horse. The unit was not disbanded until 1861, and in addition to seeing service during the Indian Mutiny also saw service on the North West Frontier of India during the Sitana campaign of 1858 (with 30 members of the Peshawar Light Horse recorded as being present during that latter campaign), with men of the unit being awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal and/or the India General Service Medal 1854 with North West Frontier clasp. Indian Mutiny Medals to men from the 27th Foot who saw service with the Peshawar Light Horse are named to their parent regiment, 27th Foot, whilst their India General Service Medals are named to the Peshawar Light Horse. The medal roll for the North West Frontier clasp to the India General Service Medal records 4 men from the 27th Foot as being entitled. A group of two medals, Indian Mutiny and India General Service Medal, is known to 2942 Private Patrick Burke of the 27th Foot who saw service with the Peshawar Light Horse. His Mutiny Medal is named to the 27th Foot, whereas his India General Service Medal is named to the Peshawar Light Horse.

Since Indian Mutiny Medals to men of the 27th who saw service with the Peshawar Light Horse are, like this medal, named to the 27th Foot, this medal thus perhaps worthy of further research with regard whether Coulter perhaps saw service with the Peshawar Light Horse during the Indian Mutiny.

The Indian Mutiny Medals awarded to officers and men of the 27th Foot were not distributed until 1869, fully twelve years after they had taken part in the campaign for which the medals were awarded, the medals to the 205 officers and men who had seen service with the regiment during the Indian Mutiny and were still serving being presented to them at a parade at Chatham in July 1869.