Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second Afghan War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant William McGillivray, 92nd Highlanders, dangerously wounded at the battle of Kandahar, 1 September 1880

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Corpl., 92nd Foot); Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (1539 Corpl., 92nd Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1539 Corp., 92nd Highlanders) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £5000-6000

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 December 1880.

William McGillivray was born in Petty, Invernesshire. A Ploughman by occupation, he enlisted into the 92nd Highlanders at Dublin on 26 March 1867, aged 18 years. With the regiment he served in the Second Afghan War, seeing action at the battle of Charasia, 6 October 1879 and in the operations around Kabul during the following December. He subsequently accompanied General Roberts
on the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar in August 1880. In the battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, Corporal McGillivray was dangerously wounded by grape shot in the left arm and hand. The medical report of the case states that the wound, caused by three bullets caused fracturing and damage ‘equivalent to the loss of a limb’.

The circumstances which led to the award of the D.C.M. were described in Lord Roberts’ despatch published in the London Gazette of 3 December 1880, in which McGillivray was one of 10 officers and men of the 92nd Highlanders and 2nd Gurkhas who ‘showed great gallantry and forwardness in the attack on the Afghan entrenchment near the foot of the Baba Wali Pass.’ McGilivray was one of eight men of the 92nd Highlanders who were decorated with the D.C.M. for service in the Second Afghan War.

As a result of his wounds, McGilivray was discharged at Aberdeen on 15 August 1882, aged 33 years, 4 months, and stated that his intended place of residence was to be Dulcross Station, by Inverness. With copied discharge papers.