Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare ‘Maiwand’ survivor’s medal awarded to Private M. Sheehan, 66th Regiment - a member of the smooth-bore battery

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (1507 Pte. M. Sheehan, 66th Foot) signs of fire damage, suspension a little slack, edge bruising, contact marks, better than good fine £1500-2000

1507 Private Michael Sheehan, 66th Regiment, was present at the battle of Maiwand, 27 July 1880 and was a member of the smooth-bore battery. As the battle progressed, the British line resembled a horseshoe, with the two-gun smooth-bore battery positioned on the left flank. In the early afternoon the smooth-bore guns ran out of ammunition and were allowed to retire. Their withdrawal fatally undermined the moral of two company’s of Jabobs’s Rifles holding the position on the left and, strongly attacked by the Afghans, the two companies fled exposing the British position with catastrophic consequences.

After the battle Sheehan continued to serve in the Field Reserve of the 1st Brigade under Colonel Daubeny at Kandahar. After the battle of Kandahar, 1 September 1880, Private Sheehan found Ayub Khan’s drill book in the Afghan camp. The drill book with an inscription referring to Sheehan’s ‘find’ on the inside front page is held by the Regimental Museum.

With some copied research and with a CD containing two group photographs, including Sheehan (not identified).