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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 34

The India General Service Medal awarded to Colour-Sergeant E. Kelly, 18th Royal Irish Regiment, who was severely wounded and lost an eye to gunshot whilst storming the Great Shwe-Dagon pagoda in April 1852

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Cr. Serjt. Edmd. Kelly. 18th. Rl. Irish Regt.), good very fine

Edmund Kelly was born at Kithnila, Roscommon circa 1823 and enlisted into the 18th Regiment of Foot in 1841. He was a Colour-Sergeant (No. 1800) in the 5th Company by the time of the Second Anglo-Burmese War. The unit first saw action on 5 April 1852 at Martaban when they were the first to storm the wall under over of the bombardment. Captain Gillespie is noted as the first in, with the Grenadier Companies and the 80th Regiment in the fold too. Having secured Moulmein, they were again engaged at Rangoon when they assisted the Bengal Sappers and the Bluejackets get through the thick jungle to get their ladders onto the White House stockade. On 14 April they were faced with the magnificent Shwe-Dagon pagoda. A fiercely protected bastion, the spectacular 14th century pagoda was defended by cannon over its three main tiers, in addition to being protected by a brick and mud rampart. The force chosen to storm the Pagoda comprised a detachment of the 80th, two Companies of the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment and some troops from 40th Bombay Native Infantry. An approach march having been made before dawn through jungle, the ranks of the storming party readied themselves for the attack. James Jones's History of the South Staffordshire Regiment (1705-1923) takes up the story:

'The distance to be covered in the advance to the eastern entrance of the Pagoda was 800 yards. The troops crossed steadily under a heavy fire from the walls crowded with the enemy. When the storming party reached the Pagoda steps, a rush was made for the upper terrace, and a deafening cheer told that the Pagoda was won. The enemy evacuated the place in great confusion, and were severely handled by the troops and the fire from the steamers on the river.'

Kelly was severely wounded by gunshot and lost his right eye as a result. They latterly found themselves under siege at Prome in August-October 1852 and in November two Companies were sent out to the districts on patrol to locate enemy. With a force cornered at Tomah, the British waited until March 1853 for reinforcements for a full-scale attack, which eventually cost the 18th 1 killed and 28 wounded. The Regiment sent Companies onto the Tonghoo Pass to shepherd a delivery of 148 elephants over the pass. Others were sent out against Myat Toon and were part of the main attack on his stronghold on 19 March, when a frontal attack with the Sikhs secured the victory. Once peace stopped the field operations, the unit was returned to Calcutta, depleted by 365 casualties over the course of the operations.

Kelly was discharged in 1856.

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Sold for
£550

Starting price
£280

Sale 25112 Notices
Please note that Sergeant Kelly is recorded in the Regimental History and on his Pension documents as having been severely wounded on 12th April, thus he did not participate in the charge at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda on 14th April.