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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 246

The Third Afghan War 1919 M.C. pair awarded to Lieutenant W. C. Tungate, 9th Battalion, Gurkha Rifles

Military Cross, G.V.R.; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Lt. W.C. Tungate, M.C., 1/9/Gurkhas), very fine (2)

M.C. London Gazette 29 November 1919.

'On 17 May 1919, on the attack of the Ridge, he led a party with the greatest gallantry to within 20 yards of the summit, and maintained himself unsupported in the face of greatly superior forces for many hours. When eventually reinforced, he and his men were the first on the summit.'

Wilfred Charles Tungate served on the Western Front from July 1915-February with the 1/9th Battalion, Gurkha Rifles and thence in Macedonia until February 1917 (1914-15 Star Trio).

After the Great War, Tungate served at Dakka at which he was awarded his Military Cross. The National Army records that:

'Dakka was initially occupied by the British on 13 May 1919, but Brigadier-General Guy Baldwin's choice of camp location, near Loe Dakka, was poorly suited for defence and he failed to secure the surrounding heights. Two days later, Major-General Charles Fowler arrived at Dakka and assumed command. He ordered the camp to be moved two miles further west and made an effort to picquet the hills to the south and west of the camp. But before all of these improvements could be made, the camp came under artillery barrage and then an infantry assault.

This Afghan attack was defeated and the British launched a counter-attack the following day, however, they were unable to consolidate their position and it was not until 17 May that the heights around Dakka were finally secured and the Afghans forced to withdraw.'

The 1/9th Gurkha Rifles, 1/35th Sikhs and Somerset Light Infantry with support from the King's Dragoon Guards won the battle. On that occasion, a force of roughly 2,000 Afghans, including two cavalry units, advanced to attack the British camp. From the surrounding heights they opened fire with rifles and artillery, and at 9 p.m. launched a dangerous night assault that at one stage threatened to overwhelm the defenders. After regrouping, the British forces charged the following morning and seized the high ground, inflicting heavy casualties, around 300 dead, and driving the Afghan raiders into retreat. It was the efforts of the Gurkhas, and the gallant acts of individuals such as Tungate, which ultimately turned the tide of the battle.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800