Orders, Decorations and Medals

A silver-cased pocket watch presented to Private William Clayton, 66th Regiment, for rescuing a wounded officer at the Battle of Maiwand for which he was also awarded the D.C.M.
Open-faced Pocket Watch, the silver case hall marked London 1879, with finely engraved presentation inscription on inner case ‘Presented by Lieut. H. Lynch, 66th Regt. to W. Clayton, as a token of gratitude for his gallant conduct in rescuing him while wounded on the Battlefield of Maiwand. 27th July, 1880.’lacking second hand to subsidiary dial and winder key, otherwise apparently in working order

1163 Private William Clayton was awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry at Maiwand on 27 July, 1880. The medal was presented to him by the Queen at Osborne House on 17 August, 1881. He appears in a group photograph, with other heroes of Maiwand, reproduced in ‘Recipients of the D.C.M. 1855-1909’ by P. E. Abbott, 2nd edition 1987.
Lieutenant Hyacinth Lynch was dangerously wounded at Maiwand. His sword was found six years after the battle in the possession of an Afghan General, a refugee from Kabul. It was removed from him and returned to its proper owner. Lynch recovered to fight with his regiment in the Soudan campaign of 1885 and was present at the battle of Tofrek. He retired to write his memoirs as a Major, and left his blade to the regimental museum, where it is still to be seen.