THE NEW ZEALAND MEDAL 1845-66 TO SERGEANT WILLIAM POUNTNEY, 50TH (THE QUEEN'S OWN) REGIMENT (THE POST-1880 1ST BATTALION THE QUEEN'S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT) WHO SAW SERVICE IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER LETITIA (1868-1954) BEING BORN IN BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, WHILST POUNTNEY WAS SERVING IN AUSTRALIA. New Zealand Medal 1845-66, 1865 to 1866 reverse (officially named, impressed in serifed capitals: 4414. SERGt. Wm. POUNTNEY, (50th QUEE) N's OWN REGt.). Unofficial correction to regiment in naming (as indicated), the letters and numbers "50th QUEE" erased and crudely over-struck "0th", however surname and regimental number are clear and the regimental number the same as on Pountney's discharge papers, small edge bruise to obverse rim at 7 o'clock, otherwise attractively toned, Good Very Fine or perhaps a little better, and with a good length of original ribbon.
Medal accompanied by biographical details, 4 pages copied discharge papers, Chelsea Pensioner details, extract 1871 census return, and copied extract New Zealand Medal roll, confirming medal and that Pountney saw service in New Zealand during the Waikiato and West Coast campaign from 15/11/1863 to 16/9/1866 (Pountney's surname is mis-transcribed as "Panniney" on Ancestry, but the surname on the original medal roll clearly reads Pountney).
William Pountney (1833-1904) was born in the parish of Quatford, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, in 1833, the son of Luke and Letitia Pountney. He enlisted into the 50th Foot at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, on 15/4/1855. At the time of enlistment Pountney was 21 years and 4 months old and gave his trade as labourer. Pountney was promoted Corporal, 15/3/1857, tried for drunkeness and reduced to Private, 16/61857, promoted Corporal 23/8/1865, Sergeant, 1/10/1868, court-martialed and reduced to Private, 28/7/1871, and promoted again to Corporal, 19/2/1873, and was finally discharged at Birr (county Offaly, Ireland) on 25/4/1876, after serving 21 years and 13 days with the colours (21 years and 6 days pensionable service). Pountney was discharged "in consequence of his having claimed it in termination of his second period of limited engagement". At the time of discharge Pountney's conduct was described as having been "Good" and on discharge he stated that his intended place of residence was Wolverhampton. Pountney's Chelsea pension application is dated 12/04/1876.
In addition to service at home, Pountney saw service in Malta and the Crimea for 8 months (not entitled Crimea Medal or Turkish Crimea Medal, Pountney not having seen service ashore in the Crimea during the war), Ceylon, for 6 years and 1 month and the Australian colonies (Australia and New Zealand) for 5 years and 7 months.
Pountney married Johanna Doody (1844-1919) in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1867, his eldest daughter, Letitia (1868-1954) being born in Brisbane, Queensland.
