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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 384

Pair: Colour-Sergeant J. Lewis, 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (1463. Cr.Sgt. J. Lewis 66th Foot); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1643 Colr. Sergt. John Lewis 66th Foot), pitting and contact wear from Star, one edge knock, otherwise very fine (2)

John Lewis was born in Bridgwater, Somerset circa 1853 and attested with the 66th Regiment of Foot at Bristol on 16 July 1869 - falsely stating his age as eighteen. He set sail for India from Queenstown on 25 February 1870 aboard the troopship Crocodile and arrived at Bombay in April. Lewis was stationed in India for three years, until embarking for England from Bombay on the H.M.S. Jumna in February 1873. Back home in England, he was advanced Corporal on 10 September 1873.

Lewis was not to remain at home for long and was again posted to India in January 1875. He found himself promoted Sergeant in October 1876, and a couple of years later he marred Ellen Edwards at the Satara Chapel on 9 October 1878. Lewis was next appointed Colour Sergeant in December 1878 ahead of his Regiment's participation in the Afghan Campaign.

They arrived in Kandahar from India on 25 March 1880 to join the Kandahar Field Force. Lewis is confirmed to have been part of the two-company detachment that was sent to Kalat-i-Ghilzai, and as such missed the Battle of Maiwand. The detachment of the 66th took part in the Kabul to Kandahar march in July 1880 to relieve Ayub Khan's siege of Kandahar, whom they defeated in battle on 1 September. The unit was present in the 1st Brigade Field Reserve, and suffered no casualties during the engagement.

The 66th Foot returned to India the following month and then finally embarked for England aboard H.M.S. Malabar in January 1881. Lewis's wife Ellen accompanied him on the journey home, and both are recorded as living at the Parkhurst Military Barracks on the Isle of Wight in the 1881 census. He was promoted Quartermaster Sergeant on 20 February 1884, and awarded a L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1888. Lewis was discharged on 24 March 1891 after serving with the Colours for nearly 22 years. Subsequent censuses in 1891 and 1901 reveal Lewis and his wife living in Bristol with their increasing brood of children; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£100