THE EXTREMELY RARE ROYAL ARTILLERY OFFICERS I.G.S. & AFGHAN PAIR POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF NO1 MOUNTAIN BATTERY, WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF PEIWAR KOTAL ON 2 DECEMBER 1878, SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD WHILST LEADING HIS BATTERY IN SUPPORTED OF THE 72ND HIGHLANDERS & THE 5TH GOORKHAS UPHILL ATTACK ON THE AFGHAN MOUNTAINOUS POSITIONS ON SPINGAWI KOTAL. ONE OF JUST TWO OFFICERS KILLED AT THE BATTLE

INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1854-95, CLASP, JOWAKI 1877-8 ‘CAPTN. J. A. KELSO. R. ARTY.’ IN ITS NAMED CARD BOX OF ISSUE; AFGHANISTAN 1878-80, CLASP, PEIWAR KOTAL ‘CAPTAIN. J. A. KELSO. R.A.’ IN ITS NAMED CARD BOX OF ISSUE.

At the battle of Peiwar Kotal, No1 Mountain Battery, commanded by Captain Kelso, supported the 72nd Highlanders and the 5th Goorkhas uphill attack on the Afghan mountainous positions on Spingawi Kotal; subject of the famous painting by Vereker Monteith Hamilton. Captain Kelso would be killed whilst “bringing his guns into action, just beyond the first stockade” :

“At 10pm on 1st December 1878, 2,200 of Roberts’ best troops filed out of the camp in complete silence, with the General himself in command. The climb to the Spingawi Kotal was long and difficult, with the column stumbling over the rough country in the darkness. Roberts felt that the pace of the advance was too slow, and suspected his leading regiment – the largely muslim 29th Punjab – of deliberately dragging its feet. Those suspicions were confirmed when a few Indian soldiers fired warning shots to alert the enemy. Amazingly, the warning went unheeded, and after a few tense moments Roberts decided to rearrange his column, calling the elite 5th Ghurka Rifles and the highlanders to the fore: On the Gurkhas coming up, I told Major Fitz-Hugh, who commanded them, that the moment he reached the foot of the kotal, he must front form company, fix bayonets, and charge up the slope without waiting for further orders. Soon afterwards, and just as the first streak of dawn proclaimed the approach of day, the enemy became aware of our presence, and fired into us, when instantly I heard Fitz-Hugh give the word to charge. Brownlow, at the head of his Highlanders, dashed forward in support, and two guns of the Mountain battery coming up at the moment, I ordered its Commandant, Captain Kelso, to come into action as soon as he could find a position. The unfortunate Kelso fell, shot dead, a moment later – but the Afghan position was quickly captured. Taken completely by surprise, the Afghans barely had time to get a few shots off before the Ghurkas and Highlanders were upon them. Having consolidated his position on the Spingawi Kotal, Roberts could turn his attention to the Peiwar Kotal from which he was still separated by a mile-long wooded ridge.”

https://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/battle-of-peiwar-kotal/

Captain Kelso was one of two British officers to be killed at the battle of Peiwar Kotal, the other an Officer belonging to the Bengal Staff Corps. A further four British and Indian Officers were wounded……..

Condition, both medals lightly polished on the obverse, otherwise GVF. Boxes complete but pretty much flattened. One with its medal envelope within. A fine and very rare officers casualty pair.

Sold with a digital copy of Historical Record of No1 (Khohat) Mountain Battery.