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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 237

A 'Siege of Kandahar 1880' casualty's Afghanistan Medal awarded to Private F. D. Swan, 2/7th Foot (Royal Fusiliers), who died of wounds sustained during the sortie at Deh Khojah

Afghanistan 1878-1880, no clasp (896 Pte. F. Swan. 2/7th Foot), good very fine

One of 30 Royal Fusiliers wounded in action during the engagement.

Francis D. Swan enlisted with the 49th Brigade on 6 November 1875 before joining the 1/7th Foot in November 1877 and from there to the 2/7th Foot in December. Posted to India in April 1879, he was still with the Battalion when they joined British troops in Quetta for service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Marching to Kandahar in April 1880 the Battalion were still there when news arrived of the destruction of Burrows' Brigade at Maiwand. Soon afterwards, the city came under siege from Ayub Khan's victorious army which set about preparing batteries. These positions opened fire on 8 August assisted by a continual sniping from soldiers and local tribesmen which began to take an inevitable toll.

One of the strongpoints which caused the garrison great annoyance was Deh Khojah, a village near the walls from which rifle fire could sweep the ramparts with impunity. Brigadier General Brooke decided to lead a sortie against this position 300 horse and 900 bayonets including four companies of the 2/7th Foot. They advanced out at dawn on 16 August but soon became caught up in skirmish before the village which saw the enemy react to the appearance of this small force.

The column did not reach the village walls until 07:00 and found themselves strung out over rough ground and under heavy fire. Orders came from General Primrose in Kandahar for the force to withdraw however they were unable to do so without seeing the forward Company cut off. The main street was carried successfully and at this point Captain Cruickshank commanding the Engineers was wounded and Brooke rode forward to help him. At that moment a wave of swordsmen swept over both men and they were cut to pieces leaving the column leaderless.

Colonel Newport gave the order to retire and the 2/7th Foot held the street with the Sappers and Miners until the column had withdrawn. In the confusion Swan was mortally wounded and carried back to Kandahar, he was fortunate at least not to be left for the villagers who had developed the habit of mutilating the wounded. During the withdrawal Private J. Ashford of the 2/7th rescued the wounded Private Massey an action which was to earn him the Victoria Cross. Despite this bright spot the sortie was undoubtedly a disaster with over 100 men killed including 24 from the 2/7th Foot.

Swan died of his wounds the next day and it is unknown whether he was counted amongst the wounded or the dead for the engagement; sold together with a copied medal roll and handwritten research.

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Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240