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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 22

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Samana 1891 (2684 Rifleman Manbir Thapa. 1st Bn. 4th Gurkha. Regt.), a little worn, nearly very fine

The 1st Battalion, 4th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment was one of two Gurkha Battalions to take part in the Second Miranzai Expedition of 1891. During the Expedition it served as part of the Kohat Garrison and thereafter helped to garrison the Samana Range.

The First Miranzai Expedition took place in January and February 1891, to punish the Orakzai tribe for raids into British territory. Encountering little opposition, the Expedition traversed the mountainous country in the depth of winter in heavy rain and snow to destroy fortified towers and impose fines. At the conclusion of the Expedition, work was begun along the Samana Ridge, which overlooked Orakzai Territory, to construct a series of fortified posts linked by a road to protect the Miranzai Valley from future raids.

On 4 April 1891, the Orakzais attacked the troops protecting the working parties on the Samana Ridge. Fighting quickly spread along the whole of the Ridge resulting in all the posts having to be evacuated. As a consequence, reinforcements were moved up to Kohat and operations to clear the Samana Ridge of rebel tribesmen began on 17 April 1891.

1st Battalion, 4th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiment, consisting of seven British Officers and 747 Gurkha Officers and rank and file, was ordered to reinforce Kohat and on 14 April 1891 assumed responsibilities for all Garrison duties and guards. It also deployed Companies to the outposts at Chilibagh, Hangu and Baliaman and furnished the escorts for most of the convoys supplying the forward troops. The Battalion did not take part in the operations to reoccupy the Samana Ridge and the subsequent advance into Orakzai territory. The Battalion's only engagement was on 23 April when a convoy it was escorting was attacked by rebel tribesmen near Darband Kotal.

At the conclusion of operations against the Orakzais in mid May 1891, the Battalion was ordered, with three other native Battalions, to occupy the Samana Range. By December 1891, only this unit remained on the Ridge and it was relieved at the end of March 1892.

The Medal & clasp was authorised for its service in support of the Second Miranzai Expedition. The Regimental History does not record the Battalion sustaining any battle casualties. It does, however, state that the Battalion suffered heavily from ill health as a result of the arduous duties undertaken at Kohat and along the lines of communication and when it initially moved to the Samana Range, of whom nineteen succumbed to fever, diarrhoea and dysentery.


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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£60