Ceylon Medal

Last updated
Ceylon Medal
Ceylon Medal 1818.png Ceylon Medal 1818, reverse.png
Illustration of medal, obverse and reverse
Awarded by Flag of Ceylon (1875-1948).svg Ceylon
Country British Ceylon
TypeGallantry medal
Campaign(s) Uva rebellion during 3rd Kandyan War, 1818
Statistics
Established1819
First awarded1819
Total awarded45 or 47 (2 gold, 45 silver)
Khedives Star.png
Worn round the neck on a blue ribbon

The Ceylon Medal was a campaign medal awarded by the Government of Ceylon from 1819 for a military action along the Badulla-Passara route on 16 June 1818, during the closing stages of the Uva rebellion, part of the third Kandyan War. The medal was the only one struck for the Kandyan Wars. [1]

Contents

Background

On 16 June 1818, several regiments of British colonial forces were on the road to Badulla: the 19th, 73rd, the 1st and 2nd Ceylon Regiments, and the 7th, 15th and 18th Madras Native Infantry. [2] The column took rest at Passara, and a Lieutenant Wilkinson directed a party of troops to go on ahead to Badulla and rendezvous with an escort party; this scouting party consisted of "6 Europeans, 6 Malays and 6 Caffres". [2] The party, being unfamiliar with the area, were caught in a Kandyan ambush at a point about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Badulla; the Ceylon Government Gazette of 4 July 1818 describes the events that then unfolded: [2] [1] [3]

...two fine soldiers of the 73rd Regiment, James Sutherland and William Chandler, were unfortunately killed upon the spot. The gallant conduct of the rest of the party well deserves public notice & approbation. They were resolved not to abandon their Comrades even in death, nor to suffer their bodies to be insulted by a barbarous enemy; Lance Corporal McLaughlan with another European & 4 Native Soldiers volunteered to fight their way to Badulla where they might procure assistance. The remaining 2 Europeans & 8 Natives formed themselves into a circle round the dead bodies which they had previously removed to a spot of open ground while the Corporal and his companions made their way good to Badulla followed and constantly fired at by numerous Rebels; the determined band posted round the bodies was assailed for upwards of two hours by strong parties of Kandians who, urged on by their Chiefs from the Hills, for they always keep at a distance themselves, advanced within 150 or 200 yards & poured in volleys of Musketry. The cool intrepidity of the Soldiers was shewn in the judicious reserve of their fire, for they never returned more than two shots at a time, which were sufficient to keep off the dastardly enemy until Lieut. Burns with a Detachment from Badulla drove them all into the jungle & the bodies were brought off and interred in Badulla.

The General Orders of 7 July 1818 and 3 June 1819 notes the party of ten holding off the attackers for nearly two hours, until relief arrived in the form of a detachment from the 83rd regiment from Badulla. [2] [4] It goes on to promote McLaughlan to the rank of Sergeant, and recommend that the men involved be given some sort of formal distinction or recognition for their actions. [2] [4]

The Ceylonese Government struck the medal in 1819, with the total number awarded varying between sources, some stating 45 [5] [6] and others 47 (2 in gold, 45 in silver). [2] By regiment, recipients included 39 men of the 1st and two of the 2nd Ceylon Regiment, together with four men of the 73rd Regiment. [6] Four men were awarded the medals posthumously, having died of fever in the interim: Lance Corporal Richard McLaughlan, Private John Wilson, Private Christopher Sheppard and Private William Connor, all of the 73rd. [1]

Design

The medal had a diameter of 1.5 inches (38 mm), with the obverse bearing the inscription "CEYLON 1818" surrounded by a wreath of bay and oak leaves, while the reverse had "REWARD OF MERIT" around the edge, with the recipient's name engraved in the centre. [2] [6] [7] The medal was intended to be worn around the neck on a 1.5 inch wide deep navy blue ribbon. [8] [7]

The original medals are believed not to have survived, with only a replica being on display at the Black Watch Museum in Perth, Scotland. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR3.

William McBean Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Major-General William McBean was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

John Dunlay Recipient of the Victoria Cross

John Dunlay VC, also known as John Dunley or John Dunlea was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

George Stewart (VC) Recipient of the Victoria Cross

William George Drummond Stewart VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Kandyan Wars British Army expeditionary campaigns

The Kandyan Wars refers generally to the period of warfare between the British colonial forces and the Kingdom of Kandy, on the island of what is now Sri Lanka, between 1796 and 1818. More specifically it is used to describe the expeditionary campaigns of the British Army in the Kingdom of Kandy in 1803 and 1815.

Uva Province Province of Sri Lanka

Uva Province is Sri Lanka's second least populated province, with 1,259,880 people, created in 1896. It consists of two districts: Badulla and Moneragala. The provincial capital is Badulla. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces. Its major tourist attractions are Dunhinda falls, Diyaluma Falls, Rawana Falls, the Yala National Park and Gal Oya National Park. The Gal Oya hills and the Central mountains are the main uplands, while the Mahaweli and Menik rivers and the huge Senanayake Samudraya and Maduru Oya Reservoirs are the major waterways.

Great Rebellion of 1817–18 the third Kandyan War with the British, in what is now Uva, Sri Lanka, then a province of the Kingdom of Kandy, against the British colonial government under Governor Robert Brownrigg

The Uwa Wellassa Great Rebellion of 1817–1818 ඌව වෙල්ලස්ස මහ කැරැල්ල , also known as the 1818 Uva–Wellassa uprising, or simply the Uva rebellion, was the third Kandyan War with the British, in what is now Sri Lanka. It took place in what is now Uva, which was then a province of the Kingdom of Kandy, against the British colonial government under Governor Robert Brownrigg, which had been controlling the formerly independent Udarata.

73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot

The 73rd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1780. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 42nd Regiment of Foot to form the Black Watch in 1881.

British Forces casualties in Afghanistan since 2001

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom against the Taliban regime in autumn 2001.

The 93rd Regiment of Foot was a Line Infantry Regiment of the British Army, raised in 1799. Under the Childers Reforms, it amalgamated with the 91st Regiment of Foot to form the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Bryan Budd Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Bryan James Budd, VC was a British Army soldier and a Northern Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot

The 86th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1793. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 83rd Regiment of Foot to form the Royal Irish Rifles in 1881.

Sir John DOyly, 1st Baronet, of Kandy British colonial administrator

Sir John D'Oyly, 1st Baronet was a British colonial administrator.

Major General Deshamanya Alexander Richard Udugama, MBE was a Sri Lankan military leader, politician and diplomat. Former Army Commander (1964–1966), he was elected as Member of Parliament for Matale from 1970 to 1977 and served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iraq from 1979 to 1982. He was accused of an alleged coup d'état in 1966.

William Wemyss British politician and general

General William Wemyss of Wemyss was a Scottish soldier in the British Army and Member of Parliament.

Lt.-Gen. Hay MacDowall was a Scottish officer in the British Army who was the sixth General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. He was appointed on 19 July 1799. He was succeeded by David Douglas Wemyss. Fort MacDowall in Matale was named due to his involvement during Kandyan Wars. Only the remnants of gateway and portion of the ramparts are exist today.

Karuppaiah Velayudam was a Sri Lankan trade unionist, politician and state minister.

The 1915 Birthday Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The King, and were published in The London Gazette and in The Times on 3 June 1915.

Battle of Semur River

Battle of Semur River was an armed encounter which took place on 25 March 1950 between the Malay Regiment and the gunmens of Malayan Communist Party during the Malayan Emergency. Seventeen soldiers of the Malay Regiment, from 12th Platoon of Delta Company were killed by the terrorists, and eight soldiers wounded in the battle. Twenty-nine communist terrorists were killed by the Malayan soldiers.

Malwattege Simon Andrew Peeris was a Ceylonese politician.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Walsh, Robin. "16 June 1818: deaths of Private James Sutherland and Private William Chandler (73rd Regt)". Under a Tropical Sun. Macquarie University. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ameresekere, Charles. "The Ceylon Medal 1818". Ceylon Medals. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Ceylon Government Gazette. Government of Ceylon. 4 July 1818. pp. 4c–4d.
  4. 1 2 Ceylon Government Gazette. Government of Ceylon. 4 July 1818.
  5. ↑ Narbeth, Colin (1971). Collecting Military Medals: A Beginner's Guide. Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press. p. 52. ISBN   0718890094 . Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Steward, William Augustus (1915). War medals and their history. London: Stanley Paul & Co. p.  89 . Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  7. 1 2 Gordon, Lawrence L. (1962). British Battles and Medals (3 ed.). Gale and Polden. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  8. ↑ John Mussell (ed). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 121. Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.ISBN. ISBN   978-1-908-828-16-3.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.