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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 236

The superb Battle of Maiwand D.C.M. pair awarded to Quartermaster-Sergeant later Lieutenant J. Munro, 'E' Battery, 'B' Brigade (E/B), Royal Horse Artillery

He had previously taken the only Empress of India Medal to his unit and in their famous action at Maiwand was the Senior N.C.O. to be likewise decorated with the D.C.M.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (4192. Qr.Mr. Sergt. J. Munro R.H.A.), the medal originally named 'Munroe', later corrected, sold together with an Empress of India Medal 1877 to reflect the recipient's full entitlement, minor contact wear and edge wear overall, very fine

John Munro was born at Kenmore, Scotland on 30 January 1837 and enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery on 31 January 1960. Posted to India for the first time that same year he was advanced to Bombardier in 1863 and Sergeant in January 1866. Returning to Britain later that year he was married to Annie Marie Stay at Woolwich in November 1866.

Returning to India in 1873 Munro was present in the country when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India at Delhi on 1 January 1877. One soldier from each British and Native Regiment in India at the time was awarded the silver Empress of India Medal as a result and Munro was one of those selected. He followed this up with an Army L.S. & G.C. the next year on 13 November 1878.

Maiwand

Still with E/B Battery as the second phase of the Anglo-Afghan War got underway Munro was posted to Kandahar in April 1880. It was here, as General Roberts' army was crushing the last remnants of resistance around Kabul that word arrived of a new threat. Ayub Khan, the Emir of Herat had claimed the throne and was marching on Kandahar. An Anglo-Indian Army was formed from the Kandahar Field Force to confront him, with E/B Battery and the 66th Foot at its core.

Arriving outside the village of Mundabad on the 27 July 1880, the Army crossed a dried ravine before the village and advanced onto the plain beyond it. The first sight of their enemy must have been something of a shock, rather than the 6,000 regulars and 30 guns of the Herat garrison they faced an Army swelled to huge numbers by irregular Ghazi warriors.

The battle began with an artillery duel, with the twelve British guns unable to silence the Afghan batteries. These pummelled the exposed British left, formed of the 1st Bombay Native Infantry (Grenadiers) and two Companies of the 30th Bombay Native Infantry (Jacob's Rifles) as well as the cavalry. As the day wore on it became clear that the ground was not as clear as the British first believed but was cut through by ravines and ditches which worked their way close to British lines. The Afghan irregulars took full advantage of this, using their superior numbers to surround the already over extended British line and work their way behind them.

As losses began to mount and the guns supporting them withdrew, having run out of ammunition, the two inexperienced companies holding the extreme left flank began to waver. At this dangerous moment the main body of the Afghan's Army attacked and the flank began to retreat, exposing the Grenadiers in the process. Almost immediately the Afghan's began to exploit the gap and soon the British line was folding in onto itself, all the while pressed close by overwhelming numbers of marauding infantry. An attempt by the cavalry to relieve the pressure failed to gain momentum and they soon withdrew. In the centre E/B Battery made a stand protected by half a company of the Bombay Sappers and Miners, under Lieutenant Henn.

Despite their gallantry this force was soon overwhelmed and the left section of 'E' Battery was overrun. It was here that Sergeant Patrick Mullane won his Victoria Cross, running through heavy fire to rescue an injured Gunner and carrying him to a limber for evacuation. Captain Slade, by this stage Commander of 'E' Battery, succeeded in extracting the remaining guns from the teeth of the Afghan army. Their withdrawal precipitated the collapse of the remainder of Jacob's Rifles who broke ranks and crashed into the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment.

It was during the 'saving of the guns' and later retreat that Munro earned his D.C.M. with The Civil and Military Gazette 27 July 1881, providing the following citation:

'…for conduct during the retreat which was most praiseworthy as to their example, energy and perseverance was due the success of E-B Battery bringing in its four remaining guns, the forge wagon, store cart, and one smooth-bore gun, after a long and trying march of upwards of 50 miles'.

Back on the Battlefield the 66th were the only unit still engaged, however they were hard pressed with their formation broken they were soon forced to withdraw piecemeal over the ravine, Colonel Galbraith rallied a mixed group of survivors before the village of Khig and made a stand there around the Regimental Colours. This force held out for some time in a walled garden but began to withdraw following the Colonel's death. They were unable to break contact entirely and fought their way slowly through Khig to another walled garden where they made their final stand. Despite fierce resistance soon only eleven remained, led by Lieutenant Henn. One of Ayub Khan's senior artillery officers describes their last moments:

'These men charged out of the garden, and died with their faces to the foe, fighting to the death. Such was the nature of the charge, and the grandeur of their bearing, that although the whole of the ghazis were assembled around them, no one dared to approach to cut them down. Thus, standing in the open, firing steadily and truly, every shot telling, surrounded by thousands, these officers and men died; and it was not until the last man was shot down that the ghazis dared advance upon them. The conduct of those men was the admiration of all that witnessed it.'

Despite the victory Ayub Khan had suffered heavy losses and his ambitions were soon to suffer a major blow with the appearance of General Roberts at Kandahar. British losses amounted to around 1,000 men from a force of 2,500 with the 66th Regiment losing 286 dead, 32 wounded, the 1st Regiment BNI losing 366 dead, 61 wounded and the 30th Regiment BNI losing 241 dead, 32 wounded. This was the last battle in which a British Regiment lost its colours, with the practice of taking them on campaign being abolished in 1882.

Aftermath

In the short term the Battery remained with the army as it withdrew on a hellish march to Kandahar across the arid landscape. Here they came under siege but the Afghan forces proved unable to take the city and the famous Kabul to Kandahar march by General Robert's saw a British army confronting them just a month later. Despite their losses E/B Battery was in on the action, covering the advanced of Baker's 2nd Brigade as it advanced on Gundigan.

As a defeat the army received no battle honours and little praise, however none could fault the splendid actions of E/B Battery or the 66th Foot. The former received 2 Victoria Crosses and 8 Distinguished Conduct Medals for their actions, including Munro. He was not present for the parade at Poona where the bulk of the awards to the Battery where given out, he had been posted back to Ireland, the Dublin Daily Express of 29 August 1881 gives further details, stating:

'His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief having directed that a medal for distinguished conduct be awarded to Quartermaster-Sergeant J Munro, B Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, in recognition of his conspicuous gallantry at Maiwand, and in the subsequent retreat on Candahar, there will be a foot parade of the Royal Horse Artillery, at 10.45 am to-day (Monday), in Order that the Lieutenant-General commanding Dublin District may carry out the orders of His Royal Highness'.

Sold together with copied research and an original dealer's listing.

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Estimate
£4,000 to £6,000

Starting price
£3200