Description
India General Service Medal, 1854-1895, single clasp, Umbeyla (2110 J Brian 1st Battn 7th Regt); officially impressed. Perhaps once cleaned, suspension a touch loose and edge impression weak in parts, otherwise a bold very fine.
Private John Brian was born c.1829 at St Anns Cork, and attested for service in the 7th Regiment at Dublin on the 28th of August 1846, at the age of 17 and a half years old, having previously worked as a Shoemaker. After a period of several years home service, he was sent with his regiment to serve in the Crimean War.
His service in the Crimea was typically very hard indeed, where he states his eyesight began to deteriorate in the harsh winter of 1854, but additionally in his discharge papers state that he broke two ribs at the Battle of Inkermann where ‘several sandbags…and stones fell upon him from the effects of pace of a round shot…the seat of the fractures can be felt on pressure.’
He was also present in India during the Umbeyla Campaign of 1863 on the North East Frontier, and late November that year he joined the Ysafzai Field force led by Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain to fight against the local Pashtun Tribes. He was stationed in ‘East India’ for a period of nearly 9 years.
Private Brian was discharged from further service on the 26th of October 1866, at Saugor, India, having served at total of 19 years and 241 days, as a consequence of being generally worn out, having a defect of the eyes, and for pain in his ribs as a result of the injuries received at Inkermann. His discharge papers show that he was additionally entitled to the British and Turkish Crimea Medals.
