Additional Information

HEAD QUARTERS

Colombo, 2^nd June 1819

GENERAL ORDERS.

In reference to those parts of the General Orders of the 1^st of May, and 7^th of July 1818, which record the gallant, and well executed enterprize of a Detachment of His Majesty’s 1^st Ceylon Regiment, under the Command of Native Lieutenant Annan, in the capture of the Rebel Mohattale Kohokoombera, on the 18^th of April and the heroic entrepidity of a party under Lance Corporal MacLaughlin of the 73^rd Regiment, in the generous defence of the dead bodies of their fallen Comrades, on the march from Passera to Badulla on the 16^th of June, The Commander of the Forces, in fulfillment of his intention, as set forth in the Orders of the 1^st of May & 7^th of July, that some adequate mark of distinction should be conferred on all those who were engaged in the above Services, has been pleased to direct that appropriate Silver Medals should be struck, corresponding in number with that of the individuals concerned, on whom they are exclusively to be bestowed, and to be worn, suspended by a strong blue Ribband on the left Breast, in the manner of the Waterloo Medals.

These Medals being now completed will be transmitted by the Deputy Adjutant General to the Officers Commanding the 73^rd, 1^st, and 2^nd Ceylon Regiments who will cause a correct distribution of them to be made to the Officers and Soldiers, belonging to the Battalions under their respective Commands, who bore a part in the occasions referred to, and whose names are as follows, and which are engraved on the Medal for each Person.

It is a subject of high gratification to the Lieutenant General to have occasion to commemorate and reward actions so creditable to the gallant and generous spirit of the British Soldier, and to the bravery and devoted fidelity of His Majesty’s Native Troops of this Establishment, and he trusts that they, on whom these testimonials of merit are now conferred, will fully appreciate and deserve by their future good conduct the distinctions they have so honourably and so justly obtained, and that they will remain with them and their Posterity for years to come.

(The names of the recipients were listed in this General Order. I have listed them under the "Recipients" tab on this website.)

Source: Public Record Office, Kew. T64/62: Ceylon General Orders 1816-19.

16 June 1818:

Deaths of Private James Sutherland and Private William Chandler (73rd Regt).

"...From Badulla accounts have been received down to the 23d. Inst. and we are sorry to learn that some more casualties have occurred in that neighbourhood. On the 16th Instant, while the H.C. 18th NI were halting at Passera for refreshment, Lieut. Wilkinson sent into Badulla a small party to announce their arrival. This Party consisted of 6 Europeans, 6 Malays and 6 Caffrees. They had not been used to go quite to Badulla, but to meet escorts halfway, and so were not aware of there being within two miles of Badulla a patch of jungle which was a favourite lurking place of the Rebels; when they approached this spot a heavy fire was opened upon them by the Kandyans from their ambuscade close by and 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 vollies 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."

Source:

Ceylon Government Gazette 4 July 1818 [No. 876] pp. 4c-4d.

Background:

To mark this action a medal was struck for the survivors by the Ceylon Government. At the time this was a rare honour; unfortunately all four men from the 73rd Regiment died of fever before they could receive their medals:

Lance Corporal Richard McLaughlan

Private John Wilson

Private Christopher Sheppard

Private William Connor

The original medals do not appear to have survived but a facsimile is on display in the Black Watch Museum in Perth, Scotland (see photo below). This was the only gallantry medal struck during the Kandyan Wars.

Native Lieutenant Annan's capture of one of the rebel leaders is mentioned in Geoffrey Powel's book The Kandyan Wars as follows:

"A Moorman approached the commander of one of the posts in Vellassa with the information that an insurgent chief had several times suggested to him that he should persuade a party of Malays to desert with their weapons. A plan to simulate such a desertion was concocted; and , on the appointed day, the Moorman led thirty soldiers to the rendezvous. Among them were a Malay officer and several N.C.O.'s, all dressed in private soldiers' uniforms. There are different versions of what followed, but the more accurate story is likely to be that told by Calladine, who was a member of the garrison. That evening as the Kandyans shared their meal with their new allies, the Malays drew their krises at a given signal and plunged them into their hosts. Some thirty men were left dead on the spot, but the life of the chief who had been instrumental in suggesting the deal was preserved, and he was brought back as a prisoner. Medals and a cash bounty were awarded to each of the Malays, and their lieutenant was promoted to the rank of captain." [Powell, The Kandyan Wars, 1973]

Hastings-Irwin - War Medals and Decorations.

"For the Kandian Rebellion in 1818, a medal was issued in 1819 by the Government of Ceylon, and was given to thirty-nine men of the 1st Ceylon Regiment, and two men of the 2nd Ceylon Regiment, for gallantry in the action fought on April 18th, 1818; and to four men of the 73rd Regiment for services rendered during a battle on June 15th, 1818. On the obverse is the inscription, 'Ceylon 1818,' surrounded by a wreath of oak, and bay-leaves. Reverse: Round the edge, 'Reward of Merit,' the name and regiment of the recipient being engraved in the centre. It was a silver medal, 1.1/2in. diameter, and was worn with a blue ribbon. The men of the 73rd Regiment who received it were Lance-Corporal R. McLaughlin and Privates W. Connor, C. Sheppard and J. Wilson."

W. Augustus Steward – War Medals and Their History

Ceylon, 1818.

In 1819 the Government of Ceylon issued a medal, 1 ½ inches in diameter, in connection with the Kandian rebellion of 1818. It bears on the obverse a wreath of bay and oak leaves, encircling CEYLON 1818, and on the reverse REWARD OF MERIT, the name of the recipient being engraved in the centre. A blue ribbon was used for suspension. Four men only of the 73rd Perthshire Regiment, two men of the 2^nd and 39 of the 1st Ceylon Regiments were awarded the medal.

Other Sources:

The Kandyan Wars by Geoffrey Powell

Leo Cooper Ltd., London 1973

Sinhale and the Patriots 1815-1818 by P E Pieris

Navrang, New Delhi, 1995