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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 106

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ahmed Khel (261. Lce. Corpl. W. Brown. 59th Foot.), very fine

William Brown enlisted at Glasgow in 1872 and joined the 68th (Durham Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot in Cork, Ireland as a Private on 1 February 1872 under service number 1098/1884. Just one week later, Brown was posted overseas and embarked from Cork for India. One year into his service on 1 April 1873 he transferred to the 59th Regiment of Foot, and his service number was changed three years later to number 68.1884/261.

Brown and his Regiment served in Afghanistan in the Second Afghan War and was present at the Battle of Ahmed Khel on 16 April 1880. The British force faced a strong Afghan presence in the hills to the West, and they attacked while General Donald Stewart was deploying. The 59th Foot was near the centre of the line facing west and were caught by the Afghans' attack whilst re-deploying to a new position. The Regiment suffered 13 casualties during the battle.

Brown was advanced Lance Corporal on 18 January 1881 and was promoted again shortly afterwards to Corporal on 15 March 1881. At some point, whether prior to and after his promotions, he returned home to England where he was discharged at Gosport on 16 September 1881 and intended to reside in Glasgow thereafter; sold together with copied medal roll.

The roll indicates Brown may have also been entitled to a clasp for Kandahar.

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Sold for
£300

Starting price
£100