Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (1298. Pte. J. Bridgham. 15th Hussrs.) minor edge bruise, good very fine £200-240

James Bridgham was born in St. Helen’s, Lancashire, and attested for the 15th Hussars at Dublin, in November 1872. He served with the Regiment during the Second Afghan War 1878-80, and was severely wounded by a sword cut to the left arm at the action of Takht-i-pul, 4 January 1879. The latter action was as part of a cavalry reconnaissance under the command of Major George Luck, 15th Hussars, and Shadbolt’s The Afghan Campaigns of 1878-80 gives the following:

‘On the morning of the 4th Jan, the Right and Left columns of the advance, under Brigadier-General Palliser... while marching by separate routes across the Mel Valley - the one to encamp at the entrance to the Ghlo Pass, and the other at Saif-u-din - came into contact with some regiments of Afghan cavalry which had been sent out from Kandahar with the object, apparently of intercepting their progress. About 1pm, Major Luck, 15th Hussars, who was in command of reconnoitring party consisting of 100 sabres 15th Hussars and 28 sabres 1st Punjab Cavalry, which had been despatched through the Konna Pass into the Takht-i-pul Valley, sent a message to the effect that he had exchanged shots with the enemy’s scouts... After proceeding a distance of some three miles the cavalry neared the northern entrance of the Ghlo Pass from the Kandahar direction, and found the enemy, to the number of not less than 300 debouching from it in a leisurely retirement.... The two troops of the 15th Hussars and detachments of the 1st Punjab Cavalry, led by Major Luck, at once swept forward to the charge, and were received with a volley from the carbines of the Afghan horsemen, who, after a short hand-to-hand encounter turned and fled, and were pursued for some distance along the base of the hills.’

The casualties for the action were described in Brigadier-General C. H. Palliser’s despatches (London Gazette 7 November 1879) thus:

‘One Officer (Major Luck), one non-commissioned officer, and five troopers of the 15th Hussars wounded, two of the latter, Privates Bridgham and Collins, severely; two horses killed, three horse wounded, and two horses missing.’

Bridgham’s arm was left disabled by the wound, and he was discharged ‘unfit for further service’ 15 June 1880, having served 7 years and 129 days with the Colours. Despite this disability Bridgham became a self-employed stone mason.