AFGHANISTAN MEDAL

AN EXTREMELY FINE 3 CLASP AFGHAN 1878 TO A 92ND (GORDON HIGHLANDERS) COLOURSERGEANT WHO WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED AT THE STORMING OF THE TAKHT-I-SHAH, NEAR KABUL, 13 DECEMBER, 1879, AN ACTION IN WHICH LIEUTENANT DICKCUNNINGHAM WAS SUBSEQUENTLY AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS FOR HIS GALLANTRY IN RALLYING THE MEN OF HIS REGIMENT AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT OF THE ATTACK

AFGHANISTAN 1878-1880, 3 CLASPS, CHARASIA, KABUL, KANDAHAR ‘1402 CR. SGT. R. HART, 92ND HIGHRS.’

Colour-Sergeant Robert Hart served with the 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment in the Second Afghan War, with confirmed entitlement as above, and was severely wounded in action (gunshot wound right wrist) on 13 December 1879, as confirmed in ‘The Second Afghan War 1878-1880 Casualty Roll’ by Farrington. The original medal roll goes on to state ‘Deceased 20-11-80’ in the remarks column, suggesting that he finally died of wounds, or disease, one year later.

On 13 December 1879, four companies of the 92nd, led by Major G S White VC, stormed Takht-i-Shah (or the Sherpur Pass) near Kabul, suffering 1 officer and 3 men killed, and 19 men wounded in this action during the desperate and often hand to hand fighting. Among these casualties were no less than three Colour Sergeants, an extremely high number of these senior NCO’s. Lieutenant Dick-Cunningham was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in rallying the men of his regiment at a crucial moment of the attack.

https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/1225/William-Henry-DICK-CUNYNGHAM

A group photograph (copy included) which includes Colour-Sergeant Hart is shown in 'The Life of A Regiment - The History of the Gordon Highlanders'.

Condition NEF. With copy research. Ex DNW November 1991. A fine medal to a high ranking Gordon’s NCO.