A fine Victorian campaign group of three awarded to Major W. R. Arnold, Dorsetshire Regiment, who was gravely wounded in the groin and both legs at the storming of the Dargai Heights in October 1897: he was duly mentioned in despatches for his gallantry by General Lockhart and a private soldier in his company - Samuel Vickery - received the V.C.

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Captn. W. R. Arnold, 1st Bn. Dorset Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Major W. R. Arnold, Dorset Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Major W. R. Arnold, Dorset R.), mounted as worn, occasional edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (3) £2000-2400

William Reginald Arnold was born in Hatherleigh, Devon in August 1868, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel William Arnold and his wife Georgina Elizabeth of Nethercott House, Iddesleigh, Winkleigh, Devon. Educated at Marlborough College, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment from the R.M.C. Sandhurst in November 1888.

Promoted Lieutenant in July 1890, and Captain in March 1897, while serving in Malta, he was embarked for India in September of the latter year. He subsequently served with distinction in the Tirah Field Force in Punjab Frontier operations of 1897-98, not least at the storming and capture of the Dargai Heights on 20 October 1897, when he was dangerously wounded in leading the assault of ‘E’ Company, 1st Battalion - the official casualty list states ‘Dangerously wounded, gunshot right groin and both legs’. The regimental history of the Dorsetshire Regiment, by Atkinson (Vol. II), states:

‘The second attack found the tribesmen in greatly increased numbers and the position much strengthened. Many Afridis had served in the British Indian Army and had learnt how to use modern rifles the majority of them carried. It was therefore an extremely formidable task which awaited General Kempster’s men when at 0430 on 20 October they started the next advance. The 2nd Gurkhas led, with the Dorsets, less ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies escorting the two Mountain Batteries, in support. On reaching the top of the Chagru Kotal the enemy were found In force at Dargai and the Gurkhas were sent forward, the Dorsets following. The only line of approach was little better than a bad goat path up a water course, so the men could only advance very slowly, though they were in dead ground and consequently escaped exposure to fire.

Eventually the Gurkhas were collected at the western end of the lower ridge where the connecting spur joins it. Four companies of the Dorsets ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ took position on their right to give covering fire, though they had little to shoot at, at about 1000 the Gurkhas tried a rush. About 300 yards had to be crossed to reach dead ground at the foot of the heights, with two outcrops of rocks as the only cover on the way. A terrific fire greeted the Gurkhas, and of their first two companies only a handful got across, including the C.O. Colonel Travers. Many were hit, including one British officer, and others came back most of them wounded. A second effort was no more successful, as the Gurkhas emerged into the open over the crest of the lower ridge and started to cross the connecting spur they were bowled over, the Mountain Batteries on the Chagru Kotal and the covering fire of the Dorset half Battalion being equally impotent to keep down the fire of the well sheltered Afridis.

It was now the Dorsets turn and ‘E’ Company under Captain Arnold, having pushed along the reverse slope to the end of the ridge, dashed forward. They made a gallant attempt, Captain Arnold setting a splendid example, but the fire was deadly. Captain Arnold was hit in several places and nearly all the leading section fell. The other sections following behind under Lieutenant Mercer were no more successful, and after a further attempt at advancing the rest of the Company fell back to cover. Private Vickery of ‘E’ Company who had retreated to cover saw a wounded man lying in the open exposed to fire. He ran out and carried him back to safety. He was awarded the Victoria Cross. The heights were eventually carried by a massed attack by the Gordon Highlanders with more effective artillery support, many Afridis having left the heights, their ammunition exhausted.

The Dorsets suffered ten other ranks killed with two officers and 39 other ranks wounded. On 30 January 1898 the Depot, Dorset Regiment reached Peshawar from Bangalore under the command of Captain Arnold, now recovered from his wounds.’

Arnold was mentioned in despatches - ‘Captain W. R. Arnold, 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, who led the first rush of this Battalion’ (London Gazette 1 March 1898, refers) - and was given the Brevet Major in May 1898.

He next witnessed active service in South Africa in the period June 1900 to July 1902, where he was onetime Commandant at Karee Siding, and served in both the 1st and 2nd Battalions. Having then served in India in the period March 1903 to December 1904, he was placed on half-pay in December 1905.

Arnold retired to Iddesleigh where he became a J.P. in 1915. Volunteering his services in the Great War, he served at home with the 5th Battalion, Royal Defence Corps. He died in Iddesleigh in December 1935; sold with copied research.