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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 96

(x) Six: Private A. Salton, 72nd Highlanders, later King's Own Scottish Borderers

Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (306 Pte A. Salton. 1st Seaforth Hdrs:); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1005 Pte. A. Salton. 72/Hldrs.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (306 Pte A. Salton. 1st Seaforth Hdrs:); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2660 Pte. A. Salton. 3- K.O.S.B.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 Clasps, South Africa 1902 (2660 Pte. A. Salton. 3-K.O.S.B.); Khedive's Star, dated 1882 (Pte. A. Salton. 1/Sea:Hrs.), all late issues, minor pitting and contact wear overall, very fine (6)

Medal rolls state the recipient had replacements issued for his full entitlement on 29 July 1924.

Andrew Salton was born at Liberton, Edinburgh in 1859 and enlisted there on 31 July 1877. He initially saw Home Service with the 72nd Highlanders until the following year when he was posted to India and from thence Afghanistan. Salton saw action during the second phase of the Second Afghan War, seeing action first at Charasia.

They were stationed in the centre with the 5th Gurkhas, seeing heavy fighting they drove the Afghans back to the second line of hills. Here two companies of the 92nd Highlanders were detached from the left and attacked the Afghan centre in the flank, between this and the attack from the 72nd to the front the Afghans broke and ran. The Regiment was later present for the actions around Kabul in December which culminated in the successful Defence of the Sharpur Cantonment.

The war seemed won however news arrived of the massacre at Maiwand and General Roberts assembled a relief column which contained the 72nd. They commenced the Kabul to Kandahar march, successfully traversing the dangerous journey at a blistering pace and arriving at Kandahar by the start of September. As such the Regiment was in on the final Battle of the war, when General Roberts smashed Ayub Khan's forces in the heights above Kandahar.

The British withdrew from Afghanistan to India and the 72nd were amalgamated as part of the Childer's Reforms to become the Seaforth Highlanders. They left India in August 1882, being posted to General Wolsey's Army in Egypt for service in the Anglo-Egyptian War.

The Seaforths formed part of the Indian Brigade at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, attacking the Egyptian redoubt south of the canal and pushing into the town of Tel-el-Kebir proper. Salton left Egypt in November 1882 and returned to Britain where he was discharged in 1884.

He was to join the Militia almost a decade later on 11 January 1894, attesting with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. With this unit Salton was mobilised on 26 January 1900 and attached to the 1st Battalion for service in South Africa.

Returning to Britian he was promoted Sergeant with the Milita he was promoted Sergeant on 17 July 1903. Salton was finally discharged on 10 January 1908 after an extraordinarily active career; sold together with copied service papers and medal roll.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400