THE PUNJAB MEDAL 1848-49 TO PRIVATE PATRICK DONAHON (SURNAME SPELLED DONAHAN IN SOME RECORDS) 29TH (WORCESTERSHIRE) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT), SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AT CHILIANWALA, 13TH JANUARY 1849, AND WHOSE

THE PUNJAB MEDAL 1848-49 TO PRIVATE PATRICK DONAHON (SURNAME SPELLED DONAHAN IN SOME RECORDS) 29TH (WORCESTERSHIRE) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT), SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AT CHILIANWALA, 13TH JANUARY 1849, AND WHOSE WOUNDS WERE SO SERIOUS THAT THEY APPEAR TO HAVE PREVENTED HIM TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN THE INDIAN MUTINY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS STILL SERVING IN INDIA WITH THE 29TH AT THE TIME OF THE MUTINY.

Punjab Campaign Medal 1848-49, 1 clasp, Chilianwala (officially re-named, engraved in running script in the style seen on many Indian Mutiny Medals awarded to Indian Army regiments (see British Battles and Medals, page 279): “Private Patrick Donahon, H.M. 29th Regt.”). Suspender a little slack, otherwise Almost Very Fine.

Given the fact that this medal is officially re-named in a style normally seen on Indian Mutiny Medals, it is probably a late issue or a replacement for a lost medal (perhaps lost during the Indian Mutiny).

Medal accompanied by 4 pages copied discharge papers, extract Punjab Medal casualty roll confirming Donahon was wounded at Chilianwala, extract Chelsea Pensioner admissions register and extract original meda roll, confirming medal and single clasp Chilianwala.

Discharge papers record Donahon (surname spelled Donahan in papers) as having been born in the parash of Caragh, Clan (Clane), County Kildare. He enlisted into the 29th Foot at Liverpool on 15th January 1847. At the time of enlistment Donahon was 21 years of age and gave his trade as Labourer. Donahon never rose above the rank of Private and was eventually disharged on 23/6/1868 after having seen 21 years and 130 days service with the colours. Donahon was discharged at “his own request, free with pension” after 21 years service.

Service papers additonally note that Private Patrick Donahon “served in the early part of the campaign with the Army of the Punjab 1848-49, was present at the passage of the Chenab 34e – 4th October 1848 and at the battle of Chilianwala, 13th January 1849”. Papers also confirm Donahon was awarded an LSGC Medal, being “recommended for medal with gratuity”, that he was “never entered in the Defaulters book and never tried by court martial”. Papers also confirm that Donahan was “wounded severely at the battle of Chilianwala, 13th January 1849.”

In addition to service at home, Donahon also saw service in Canada for 11 months, Malta for 2 years and India for 11 years and 11 months. Donohan was not awarded an Indian Mutiny Medal, with or without clasps, despite the fact that the 29th Foot saw servcie during that campaign, which suggests that Donahon was so seriously wounded at Chilianwala in 1849 that, as a result, he was not capable of performing active service during the Indian Mutiny. Donahon was admitted a Chelsea Outpensioner in 1868, pension records recording him as being resident in Carlow, Ireland, for pension purposes (at the time of discharge, Donahon had stated that his intended place of residence was Chatham, which is the location of a military hospital for soldiers being discharged, so his initial residence there after discharge would presumably have been fairly brief).