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Auction: 1008 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 50

A Good Victorian C.B. Group of three to Major-General W. French, Who Commanded the Royal Artillery, Kandahar Field Force, During the Second Afghan War, 1878-1880 a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Companion´s (C.B.) breast Badge, by Garrard, 18ct gold (Hallmarks for London 1881) and enamel, with integral gold riband buckle b) China 1857-60, two clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Capt. W. French, No.3 B. 13th Bde. R. Art.); Afghanistan 1878-80, one clasp, Kandahar (Lieut: Col: W. French. R.A.), remnants of lacquer, generally very fine (3) Estimate £ 3,400-3,800 Major-General William French, C.B., the uncle of Vice-Admiral Gerald Marescaux, commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, 1848; advanced Captain 1855; served with the expedition to China in 1860 and was present at Sinho, Tangku, capture of Taku Forts, the surrender of Pekin and also during the operations against the Taepings in the vicinity of Shanghai, May and October 1862, including the capture of the walled cities of Tsinpoo and Tsolin, and the fortified city of Najow, the affair at Nanksiang, and the recapture of the walled city of Kahding; Lieutenant-Colonel 1873; served during the Second Afghan War 1878-80, and commanded the Royal Artillery, Kandahar Field Force, during the Second Campaign, including the defence of Kandahar, the sortie to Deh Khwaja, and the battle of Kandahar (Brevet Colonel and Mentioned in Despatches); retired Honorary Major-General and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath, 1881.

Sold for
£3,600