A most uncommon 'Illustrated' Victorian 'Wounded-in-Action' campaign medal pair for the Persia and Indian Mutiny campaigns: James Ball, Corps of Enrolled Pensioners late 14th Light Dragoons

- IGS 1854, with clasp 'Persia' (J. Ball, 14th King's Lt Dgns)
- Indian Mutiny with clasp 'Central India' (I, Ball. 14th Lgt Drgns)

Forename initial on Mutiny is 'I' - and as issued - a common transcription error for letter 'J', from handwritten medal rolls (there is only one 'Ball' on the regimental medal roll)

Wounded-in-Action: Confirmed having been 'Wounded-in-Action' by gunshot wound to the left knee, at the action fought at the 'Pass of Muddenpore', Central India, on

Medals & Clasps Verification: Both medals and clasps confirmed as entitled per the below cited medal roll sources:

- India General Service Medal 1854. With clasp 'Persia': L/Mil/5/55 (the medal roll held in the former India Office archives at the British Library)
- Indian Mutiny, With clasp 'Central India': WO 100/35

Watercolour Illustrations: Unusually, the recipient was the subject of a military illustrator in the Victorian era, 'H. McKie' who painted two 'named' illustrations of the subject in the uniforms that the recipient wore with the 14th Light Dragoons in India, and the other as a member of the Corps of Enrolled Pensioners. Both paintings were signed by H. McKie, with the latter one dated '1893' - see attached images of the illustrations - copies of which will be forwarded to the buyer by soft copy attachment, and as hard-copy together with a copy of the full 5 x page printed illustrated article:

- James Ball, 14th Light Dragoon and Enrolled Pensioner (John H. Rumsby, author) published in Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 99 (2021), 373-378

The recipients service papers are extant, and a hard-copy set will be sent together with the copied journal article

James Ball was a native of the parish of St. James, London, England, where he was born in 1829. By trade a 'Porter', at the age nineteen he enlisted in the British Army at London, on, 8 August 1846. He was posted to the 14th (King's) Light Dragoons and given the regimental number 1626. By the time that James took his final discharge from the British Army on 26 July 1859, for 'Disability' (due to effects of the wound he received in the Indian Mutiny) he had served a total of 10 years 353 days. At discharge, his character and conduct were described as very good. The majority of is service had been spent overseas in India and Persia, and totalled more than 9 years

Campaign Services: The 14th Light Dragoons, consisting of 25 x officers, 614 x men and 649 x horses, left Kirkee Cantonment for service in Persia on 20 February 1854. The regiment embarked at Bombay for disembarkation at the Persian port city of Bushire. While in Persia, 'H' troop was present at the capture of Mohamra on 26 March 1854. The regiment remained in Persia, through to May 1854, in which month it returned to India. During the Indian Mutiny, James Ball, saw considerable active service including being present at the below following actions during the 'Central India campaign:

- Capture of Rathgur
- Barodia (now Baroda)
- Capture of Garrakota
- Forcing of the Muddenpore Pass
- Battle of Betwa
- Storming and Capture of Jhansi (fighting against the legendary female nationalist leader, The Rani of Jhansi)

Pass of Muddenpore: On 4 March 1858, a squadron of the 14th - including James Ball - together with other troops, under the command of Major Arthur Scudamore of the 14th, defeated a force of rebels estimated at 9,000. During the fighting, James Ball received a gunshot wound to the outside of his left knee. The effects of stiffness to the limb and impaired motion to the knee-joint, ultimately culminated in the recipient being discharged from the British Army, as the surgeon noted that James was unlikely to have his full mobility restored

As a Chelsea Out-Pensioner James Ball was at some time a member of the Corps of Enrolled Pensioners, as evidenced by the existence of the named military painting, which shows James Ball wearing his medals in 1870, wearing the uniform of the Corps of Enrolled Pensioners

Condition: VF

Code: 24573