THE PUNJAB MEDAL 1848-49 TO LIEUTENANT (LATER CAPTAIN) T.H. HARRISON, 61ST (SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT) WHO, AFTER RETIRING FROM THE ARMY IN 1852, WAS APPOINTED CAPTAIN, DEVON MILITIA ARTILLERY, AND IN LATER LIFE WAS THE HIGH CONSTABLE OF THE TOWER HAMLETS, LONDON. Punjab Medal 1848-49, 2 clasps, Goojerat, Chilianwala (renamed, contemporary re-engraved naming in neat serifed block capitals: LIEUt. T.H. HARRISON, H.M. 61st REGt.). Attractively toned, Good Very Fine to Almost Extremely Fine.
Harrison's medal is renamed in a style similar to that seen on a number of officially engraved late issue and replacement medals issued to officers during the early to mid 1860s. Harrison's medal thus perhaps an officially issued replacement medal.
Medal accompanied by copied extracts Harts Army List and London Gazettes of the period, extracts 1881 and 1891 census returns and deaths index for 1904, and extract original medal roll confirming medal and clasps.
Thomas Harrison Harrison was born in Totnes, Devon, circa 1826. He was commissioned Ensign, 61st Foot, 30/12/1845, promoted Lieutenant, 30/3/1849 and retired by the sale of his commission on 23/1/1852. After retiring from the army Harrison was appointed Captain, Devon Militia Artillery, 30/7/1853. He is recorded in thd 1881 census as a 55 year old married High Constable resident in the parish of St John, Hackney, London, with 44 year old wife, three daughters, his father and a boarder, and in the 1891 census as a 65 year old High Constable, Tower Hamlets (Local), resident in Hackney, with his wife, two daughters, a son and a servant. Captain Harrison died in London in 1904.
1854 Harts Army List confirms that Harrison was "present at the passage of the Chenab and at the battles of Sadoolapore, Chilianwala and Goojerat, and with the field force in pursuit of the enemy to the Khyber Pass in March 1849", awarded Punjab Medal and 2 clasps.
Originally High Constables were responsible for suppressing riots and violent crimes and for arming the Militia for enabling them to do so, until the Police Acts of 1839 and 1840 established paid police forces. Thereafter High Constables gradually lost most of their powers in criminal matters to the uniformed police and were chiefly concerned with issuing writs and election notices.
