British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Samana campaign medal to Lieut. A.K. Blair, 36th Sikhs, dangerously wounded during the defence of Ft. Gulistan
India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (Lieut. A. K. Blair, 36th Sikhs) polished, therefore nearly very fine £700-800

Arthur Kennedy Blair was born on 1 March 1868, son of Charles Renny Blair, Bombay Infantry, and grandson of Captain Edward Macleod, 5th Bengal Light Cavalry, who fell in the retreat from Cabul in 1842. He was first commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, on 24 April 1889, and transferred to the 1st Battalion in February 1890, which he joined in India the following April. In July 1891, he was appointed an Officiating Wing Officer in the 4th Bengal Infantry, and the following month transferred, in the same position, to the 36th Bengal Infantry (Sikhs).

In July 1897, he was appointed a Wing Officer, and at the same time became Quartermaster of the regiment. He was with the 36th Sikhs on the Samana Range when the Frontier outbreak of 1897 took place, and was actively engaged in the operations which ensued on the Afridis and Urakzais making their combined attack on the posts on the range, particularly in the defence of Gulistan, in a reconnaissance near which place on the 27th August he was dangerously wounded with a shot through the lungs. Though still suffering from his wound he went forward with his regiment on the inauguration of the Tirah Expedition, but his health was too seriously impaired to admit of his then entering on a fresh campaign, and after a few days had elapsed he had to turn back and go home on furlough (India Medal and three clasps). He returned to India in October 1898, and having rejoined his regiment at Rawalpindi, he officiated as Adjutant during the greater part of the succeeding year. Towards the end of 1899 he was detached to the Bombay Presidency on famine relief duty, and while thus employed he died at Mayni, in the Satara district, on the 29th July 1900.