Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Captain C. J. Whitaker, 65th Foot) good very fine, rare to regiment £350-450

Charles John Whitaker was born in Valetta, Malta on 22 December 1849. Educated at the Royal Military College he gained a commission in the 65th Regiment without purchase on 8 July 1869. He purchased a Lieutenancy in the regiment on 4 January 1871 (the ‘purchase’ system was abolished in November that same year), served as Adjutant, April 1873-October 1876; was Instructor of Musketry, February-December 1878 and was promoted to Captain in December 1878. During 1878, Whitaker was one of six officers and 22 other ranks of the regiment to be employed by the Kurram Field Force on signals and communications duties in Afghanistan. Whitaker served as Superintendent of Army Signalling to Kurram Field Force. Appointed D.A.A.G. Bengal, December 1880-August 1884 and seconded for service on Staff in July 1881. Promoted to Major in February 1886 and served as Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding the 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, August 1894-November 1897. He retired on 10 November 1897 - the Afghanistan Medal being his only medallic award. Later promoted to Colonel. With copied research including photocopied photographs of the recipient.