Full medal write up
ARMY OF INDIA MEDAL 1799, CLASP BHURTPOOR ‘ASST. SURGN. F. SIEVWRIGHT, 59TH FOOT.’, SUTLEJ 1845, MOODKEE REVERSE, CLASP FEROZESHUHUR ‘LIEUT. FRS. SIEVEWRIGHT 9TH REGT’, THREE DAGUERREOTYPE PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHS.
Francis Sievwright senior was born in Edinburgh in 1795 and joined the army as a Hospital Assistant on 7 June 1813. Appointed Assistant Surgeon on 13 March 1817, he appears to have served with the 6th West India Regiment, before being appointed supernumerary Assistant Surgeon in the East Indies. He joined the 59th Foot on 29 March 1821, serving with this Regiment in India, including the siege and storming of Bhutrpoor, 1825-6, his regiment playing a prominent role during the storming. In 1827 he joined the 11th Light dragoons and though it is not clear when he joined the 9th Foot, he had been appointed Surgeon and Medical Doctor, 25 October 1835 and was certainly serving with the 9th in 1839. He was promoted to Staff-Surgeon 2nd Class on 1 October 1842 and to 1t Class Staff-Surgeon in 1855 and appears to have served for many years the staff surgeon at the Mauritius. He Died in Edinburgh on 23 January 1872.
Francis Sievwright junior, was born in 1826, presumably in India, where his father’s Regiment, the 59th Foot, was stationed. Aged 15, he was Commissioned Ensign, 9th Foot (his father’s Regiment), on 3 December 1841, joining his Regiment in India in 1842. He was promoted Lieutenant, 22 December 1843 and served with his Regiment during the Sutlej campaign of 1845.
Sievwright took part in the battle of Moodkee, 18 December 1845, the first battle of the campaign, where the 9th Foot suffered 52 Officers and men killed and wounded. However just three days later the battle of Ferozeshah would be fought. During this bloodbath of a battle, fought over two days, the battle was very nearly lost by the British, the 9th Foot suffering no less than 273 Officers and men killed and wounded, with only the 62nd suffering more with 299.
With the battle raging, during the early evening of the 21 December, the Brigade of which the 9th Foot formed a part, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Taylor of the 9th, led an attack against the Sikh guns. With light failing and advancing into the thick smoke and dust of battle, Taylor’s Brigade saw nothing ahead of them until they were at the very muzzles of the Sikh guns. In the Chaos that reigned when the guns opened up on them, the 9th suffered a very large percentage of the casualties they would during the battle. Among those lost was Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, who was killed and here also, Lieutenant Sievwright was very severely wounded and would die several days later of the terrible wounds he received. He was just 20 years of age. The following is an often-quoted account of what happened to young Sievwright:
"..The wounded, many of whom had been lying for twenty four hours on the ground untended, were now looked after. Their sufferings had been terrible, and many had fallen victims to the merciless cruelty of the Sikhs ; but it is again gratifying to be able to give one instance of humanity on the part of the enemy. Lieutenant Sievwright, an officer of H.M.'s 9th Foot, had been desperately wounded in front of the Sikh battery, and lay all that night in dreadful anguish.……….
Condition, some minor EK’s, original long ribbons, that have been rolled and sewn to sit in case. Medals in a fitted case by an Edinburgh jeweller, with space for a later relatives IGS 1895 and QSA medals. One side of cases securing clip missing. The Daguerreotype’s are in very good condition, however the case cover for Allan’s portrait is missing.
An extremely fine and emotive group to father and son with medals to Officers killed or dying of wounds during the Sutlej campaign, rarely coming onto the market.
Note: Although it would be good to keep this father and son’s medals together, the Sutlej Medal and his portrait can be purchased separately at £1400 less than the listed price.