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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 240

The campaign pair awarded to Captain F. Mc. C. Bruce, 66th Regiment of Foot, a native of the Shetland Islands who commanded one of the two Companies stationed at Kalat-i-Ghilzai during the Battle of Maiwand

After the defeat of Ayub Khan he was one of the two officers selected to lead a detachment of the 66th Foot back to the field to bury their dead


Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (Lieut: F. McC. Bruce, 66th Foot); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Lieut: F. Mc C. Bruce 66th Foot), pitting, overall nearly very fine (2)

Farquhar McCrea Bruce was born at Symbister House on the Shetland Islands on 1 January 1849, the son of William Bruce, the 7th Bruce of Symbister. He was commissioned Cornet with the1st Royal Dragoons, by purchase, on 24 December 1870. Advanced Lieutenant with this unit on 28 October 1871 he was to serve with several regiments over the next few years, the 77th Foot in 1873, the 36th Foot in 1874 and finally the 66th Foot in October 1875.

Bruce was in command of 'A' Company when the Regiment arrived at Kandahar in March 1880 to join the Kandahar Field Force. Two companies of the Regiment, 'A' and 'E', were detached to garrison the fort of Kalat-i-Ghilzai some 80 miles north of Kandahar the next month.

These companies were still stationed there during the Battle of Maiwand and as such missed the action. They were not to be kept from the fighting however and immediately joined General Roberts' column on the final leg of its march from Kabul to Kandahar.

Upon arriving they were stationed with the Field Reserve under Colonel Daubeney alongside two other companies for the 66th. After the Battle a column of detachments drawn from each Regiment in the Field Force under the overall command of Colonel Daubeney marched to the battlefield of Maiwand.

Lieutenant Beresford-Pierse and Bruce led the detachment from the 66th which numbered 20 men. While a burial detail is never a pleasant task this must have been significantly harder for the officers and men of the 66th who were burying comrades and friends with whom they had served, lived and fought for many years.

The Regiment left Kandahar in October 1880 and Bruce was promoted Captain that same month, vice William McMath who had been killed at Maiwand. The Regiment returned to Britain where they were stationed at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, remaining there until their amalgamation to form the Berkshire Regiment in 1881. The next month Bruce attended a parade held at Osborne House, Isle of Wight which saw Queen Victoria present the D.C.M. to five men of the Regiment.

He remained with the Regiment long enough to see them gain the 'Royal' title in honour of their victory at the Battle of Tofrek but did not take part in the Egyptian expedition himself. Bruce retired on retired pay on 19 February 1890 and settled at 83 Messina Avenue, Kilburn, London along with his brother and two sisters. Tragically he was not to live long but died there on 1 June 1891 at the age of just 42; sold together with copied research including service papers and an extract from Records of Service.

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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£600