THREE SOLDIERS AT PEIWAR KOTAL
In our regular spotlight on medals, James Kemp of the Orders & Medals Research Society, describes the Afghanistan Medal for the Second Afghan War, an attractive medal awarded for the campaign from November 1878 to September 1880
The obverse of the Afghanistan Medal depicts the crowned and draped head of Queen Victoria. The designer was Joseph Boehm who is best known for the Jubilee Head on Victorian coinage. The reverse of the medal has a scene of soldiers on the march with an elephant carrying a gun in the centre. A total of six clasps were authorised for the major actions in the campaign; the most clasps awarded to one man was four.
One of the actions was at Peiwar Kotal, the word Kotal means pass. The first objective of Major General Roberts’ Kurram Valley Field Force was to capture the fortress overlooking the pass. Roberts had two infantry brigades comprising mainly Indian Army units with only two British regiments, one wing (about half) of the 72nd Highlanders and the 2/8th Foot. Roberts’ plan was to lead a flanking move starting at night. His large force included the 72nd Highlanders and four guns from F/A Battery Royal Horse Artillery mounted on elephants. Brigadier General Cobb was later to travel through the pass and mount a frontal attack on the fort. His troops included the 2/8th Foot, three guns from G/3rd Battery Royal Artillery and the remaining two guns from F/A Battery. Cobb’s force moved close to the fort and Roberts was able to direct artillery fire onto the enemy. The Afghans were concerned their retreat could be cut off by Roberts’ troops and started to leave. When the final assault was made by Cobb’s men they were able to capture the position.
Three of my treasured Afghanistan Medals are illustrated. Although the recipients were from different units, each element played an important part in the action.
The medals were awarded to
Private Alexander McMurray 72nd Highlanders (later the Seaforth Highlanders), Driver James Bakey G/3rd Battery Royal Artillery and Private John Cummins 2/8th Foot (later the Liverpool Regiment).
All three men were present at Peiwar Kotal on 2 December
1878. McMurray received a four clasp medal but was later sent home as insane. Less than 300 four clasp medals were awarded to British units. Bakey served from November 1872 to September
1885 and received a three clasp Afghanistan Medal, one of the 55 with three clasps awarded to G/3rd Battery. Cummins received the medal with the single clasp Peiwar Kotal. He was from Liverpool and joined the regiment in July 1876. His army papers, which record his name as Cummings, indicate he was promoted to Lance Corporal in August 1878. He was subsequently reduced to Private in 1880 for neglect of duty. Cummins transferred to the Army Reserve in June 1883 with the rank of Corporal. He rejoined the colours in October 1884 but was found drunk on duty in December 1884 and demoted again. Cummins subsequently went absent from his regiment while serving in Ireland and completed his army time in July 1888.
Find out much more about medal collecting with the help of the Orders & Medals Research Society. The Society exists to promote a general interest in the study of orders, decorations and medals and to actively encourage and publish research into all aspects of civil and military medals, with a particular focus on those issued by Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries. Visit the website: omrs.org