Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 60

'Although the little band on the Majuba Hill did not entrench themselves, the men managed to pile up slight sangars of stones, behind which they could lie, sometimes with their helmets appearing over the top; and the Boers fired with such accuracy that when the sangars were afterwards examined, the stones were white with bullet-marks.'

The New Zealand Herald, 8 October 1881, refers.

The Second Afghan War Medal awarded to Private D. Falconer, 92nd Highlanders, who, having been wounded by a gunshot to his shoulder at the battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, was killed in action at Majuba Hill on 27 February 1881

Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (B/27 Pte. D. Falconer, 92nd Highrs), two minor edge bruises, nearly extremely fine

David Falconer is confirmed as having been wounded at the battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880; The Second Afghan War 1878-1880 Casualty Roll, by Anthony Farrington, refers.

The 92nd at the battle of Kandahar: they don't like it up 'em

As recounted in Sydney Shadbolt's Afghan Campaigns of 1878-1880, the 92nd Highlanders were hotly engaged at the Battle of Kandahar and stormed the enemy's final stronghold at the point of the bayonet:

'In the crowning defeat of the enemy at the battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, the day succeeding the arrival of the Division at the southern capital, the Regiment, as one of the two leading battalions in the right attack, played a conspicuous part, being engaged in the successive capture of the villages of Gandi Mullah Sahibdad, and Pir Paimal, and finally carrying at the point of the bayonet the entrenched position on which the enemy had taken up their last stand. The casualties on this day numbered 14 Non-Commissioned Officers and men killed, two officers and 70 Non-Commissioned Officers and men wounded. In the engagement Captain Menzies' life was saved by Privates Dennis and Roddick, who received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their gallantry, as did also Lance-Corporal McIntosh, Corporal McGilevray, and Privates Gray and Grieve.'

Then 92nd at Majuba Hill: 'Old soldiers who would not yield'

Falconer was subsequently a member of one of three companies of the 92nd Highlanders engaged in the disastrous action at Majuba Hill during the First Anglo-Boer War on 27 February 1881: as verified on the regiment's roll for the Afghan Medal 1878-80, he was killed in action on the same date (Ref. E/86217/31).

On that occasion, it was the 92nd who bore the brunt of the resultant casualties of 92 killed, 184 wounded and 59 taken prisoner, though precious few Jocks were among the prisoners: they chose to fight to the last, especially on 'Gordons' Knoll' on the right of Majuba's summit.

Nonetheless, resultant recriminations included considerable criticism of the regiment, so much so that one newspaper correspondent chose to set the record straight:

'The following facts were taken from extracts written on the spot soon after the engagement:

In the first place there were only 140 of the 92nd on the hill, out of 469 defenders. There were between 600 and 800 Boers in the encircling line of skirmishers when the position was forced; and General Schmidt, one of the Boer leaders, stated the exact calculations showed that 2100 rifles were brought to bear on the British when the stampede took place; while 3500 Boers were in all engaged.

Of the 140 rank and file of the Gordon Highlanders, 136 were killed, wounded or taken prisoner; four only reached camp. The old soldiers, whose conduct has been criticised, and against whom sneers have been cast as being merely 'Afghan veterans,' stood firm and were slaughtered by the Boers who surrounded them when the final stand was made about the General.

The whole of the 140 were not veterans in any sense of the word; there were young soldiers amongst them who had not been under fire. The panic which first arose is said to have been caused by a shout of "Ceasefire and retire," which was raised by someone unknown.

Of the conduct of the officers we learn the following particulars:

Lieutenant Hamilton crawled backwards and forwards between his advanced post and the spot where the General was, under volleys fired solely at him, and his courage was beyond praise. Lieutenant Wright, who had been through the Afghan War, was, though a young officer, cool and collected under a fire that might have tried the bravest. As he passed Major Hay, he drew attention to six bullet-holes in his own helmet, and laughingly called out, "They've spoiled my helmet for me, Major!" Yet a seventh bullet struck him in the sole of his foot, and the Boers took him prisoner. Majors Hay and Singleton and Lieutenant Hamilton were all hit at about the same time, when standing with old soldiers who would not yield. Major Hay was shot in the upper arm and through the calf of the leg; Major Singleton was hit in the knee-cap, the bullet smashing the joint and passing downward through the leg; and Lieutenant Hamilton had his wrist splintered. Captain MacGregor, of the 92nd, was orderly officer to General Colley, and had a narrow escape, a bullet piercing his clothes, but inflicting no wound. The behaviour of Second Lieutenant MacDonald, who received a commission for exceptional bravery in the Afghan War, has already been noticed in the English papers. When with five of his men he was left alone on a knoll, he drew his revolver, and the little party would have sold their lives dearly, had not the Boers, who completely surrounded them, refrained from firing. The Dutch farmers were so struck by the bearing of MacDonald that they besought him to yield, as it would be foolish to court death at their hands … ' (The New Zealand Herald, 8 October 1881, refers).

It is from such 'particulars' that we learn about the massive damage inflicted by Boer marksmanship on the rank and file of the 92nd, from shattered knee-caps and wrists to other life-changing wounds: also of the final fate of a so-called 'mere Afghan veteran,' Private David Falconer.



Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£2,000