Charles Alford
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Enlisted/attested at Exeter 24/27 Oct 1846 for unlimited service in the East India Company's Artillery. He was then
described as aged 20 years and 1month, 5ft 67/8in tall, light hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, a native of Pinhoe, Exeter,
previous occupation labourer.
Joined the EIC recruit depot at Warley Barracks, Brentwood, Essex. 18 Nov 1846, and was there allocated to the Madras
Army. Embarked for Madras on the William Gibson 25 Jan 1847.
Posted on arrival as 2692 Gunner, Horse Brigade, Madras Artillery.
Married Mary Scully in Madras, India 1855. (Madras Marriage Index Z/N/2)
Listed as Sergeant in Artillery Muster Roll dated 1 Jan 1858.
He received the Mutiny Medal with clasp 'Central India' as Acting Sergeant Major for service with F Troop, Madras Horse
Artillery, at Jheeghun 10 April, Kubrai 17 April and Banda 19 April 1858. Received a Mention in Dispatches for Banda, an
unusual occurrence for an enlisted man in the Victorian era.
Awarded HEIC Meritorious Service Medal with £15 annuity effective 25 February 1859, for 'distinguished and
meritorious service since enlistment' per Government of India General Order 404, dated 25 March 1859. Note his MSM
was issued after only 13 years service, many years before the normal qualifying period of 21 years and was undoubtedly
issued as a reward for his service during the Indian Mutiny. MSM is properly named in impressed capitals on the rim of the
medal.
When the East India Company's European units were given the option in 1861 to transfer to the British Army or discharge
with a gratuity, Alford volunteered for service in the Royal Artillery, in the rank of Troop Quartermaster Sergeant.
Charles Alford was pensioned at 2s 6d per day in 1877.
Charles Alford’s medals are part of a family group which also includes the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal awarded to
his son, No. 15845 Sergeant John Alford, Royal Artillery on 1 April 1896, his only medal.
[India Office Records: L/MIL/9/32 Artillery Recruits 1839-45; LIMIL/ll/I03 Madras European Soldiers 1840-50;
L/MIL/ll/165 Madras Musters 1858; L/MIL/5/94 Mutiny Medal Rolls]
_______________________________________________________________________
ROLL OF A SERJEANT OF THE HORSE BRIGADE ARTILLERY RECOMMENDED FOR THE ANNUITY AND MEDAL
FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE GRANTED BY ARTICLES 1 AND 2 OF GENERAL ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR
GENERAL No 196. DATED 20TH MAY 1858.
Name Date of Enlisting Character
CHARLES ALFORD 24TH October 1846 Good
Record of Distinguished or Meritorious Service
Was Orderly Serjeant for some time to Brigadier Miller Commanding Artillery Sangor Field Division during which time he
prominently distinguished himself on more than one occasion. On the 10th April 1858, he wounded one of the Rebel Chiefs
who was taken prisoner at Jeemjung on that date and so materially facilitated his capture, on that occasion he was engaged in
the pursuit of the flying enemy, several of whom he cut up. Again at Kubrea on the 17th April he particularly distinguished
by the cool and daring manner on which he carried into effect Brigadier Miller’s orders under fire of the enemy, and lastly
on the 19th April at the Battle of Banda he killed several of the enemy, and was mainly instrumental in saving Brigadier
Miller’s life when overpowered by a Bengal Horse Artillery Mutineer whose skull he clove in two.
(Signed) W.G.WOODS. Lieut-Col.,
Adjutant General of the Army
Adjutant Generals Office
Head Quarters Ootaoamund,
The 30th August 1858.
described as aged 20 years and 1month, 5ft 67/8in tall, light hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, a native of Pinhoe, Exeter,
previous occupation labourer.
Joined the EIC recruit depot at Warley Barracks, Brentwood, Essex. 18 Nov 1846, and was there allocated to the Madras
Army. Embarked for Madras on the William Gibson 25 Jan 1847.
Posted on arrival as 2692 Gunner, Horse Brigade, Madras Artillery.
Married Mary Scully in Madras, India 1855. (Madras Marriage Index Z/N/2)
Listed as Sergeant in Artillery Muster Roll dated 1 Jan 1858.
He received the Mutiny Medal with clasp 'Central India' as Acting Sergeant Major for service with F Troop, Madras Horse
Artillery, at Jheeghun 10 April, Kubrai 17 April and Banda 19 April 1858. Received a Mention in Dispatches for Banda, an
unusual occurrence for an enlisted man in the Victorian era.
Awarded HEIC Meritorious Service Medal with £15 annuity effective 25 February 1859, for 'distinguished and
meritorious service since enlistment' per Government of India General Order 404, dated 25 March 1859. Note his MSM
was issued after only 13 years service, many years before the normal qualifying period of 21 years and was undoubtedly
issued as a reward for his service during the Indian Mutiny. MSM is properly named in impressed capitals on the rim of the
medal.
When the East India Company's European units were given the option in 1861 to transfer to the British Army or discharge
with a gratuity, Alford volunteered for service in the Royal Artillery, in the rank of Troop Quartermaster Sergeant.
Charles Alford was pensioned at 2s 6d per day in 1877.
Charles Alford’s medals are part of a family group which also includes the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal awarded to
his son, No. 15845 Sergeant John Alford, Royal Artillery on 1 April 1896, his only medal.
[India Office Records: L/MIL/9/32 Artillery Recruits 1839-45; LIMIL/ll/I03 Madras European Soldiers 1840-50;
L/MIL/ll/165 Madras Musters 1858; L/MIL/5/94 Mutiny Medal Rolls]
_______________________________________________________________________
ROLL OF A SERJEANT OF THE HORSE BRIGADE ARTILLERY RECOMMENDED FOR THE ANNUITY AND MEDAL
FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE GRANTED BY ARTICLES 1 AND 2 OF GENERAL ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR
GENERAL No 196. DATED 20TH MAY 1858.
Name Date of Enlisting Character
CHARLES ALFORD 24TH October 1846 Good
Record of Distinguished or Meritorious Service
Was Orderly Serjeant for some time to Brigadier Miller Commanding Artillery Sangor Field Division during which time he
prominently distinguished himself on more than one occasion. On the 10th April 1858, he wounded one of the Rebel Chiefs
who was taken prisoner at Jeemjung on that date and so materially facilitated his capture, on that occasion he was engaged in
the pursuit of the flying enemy, several of whom he cut up. Again at Kubrea on the 17th April he particularly distinguished
by the cool and daring manner on which he carried into effect Brigadier Miller’s orders under fire of the enemy, and lastly
on the 19th April at the Battle of Banda he killed several of the enemy, and was mainly instrumental in saving Brigadier
Miller’s life when overpowered by a Bengal Horse Artillery Mutineer whose skull he clove in two.
(Signed) W.G.WOODS. Lieut-Col.,
Adjutant General of the Army
Adjutant Generals Office
Head Quarters Ootaoamund,
The 30th August 1858.
Revolt in Central India
| Charles Alford and family pictured above |
Madras Artillery & Royal Artillery
