Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (Major, Philip. H. Grieg, C. Batt: 2nd Bde. R.A.) toned, extremely fine £300-360

Philip H. Greig, late Bombay Artillery, commanded C/2, R.A., throughout the period it was employed in the war, taking part in the defence of Kandahar, and being present at the battle of Kandahar (Twice mentioned in despatches).

At the latter end of January, 1880, Battery C/2, R.A., under command of Major P. H. Greig, then stationed at Haidarabad, was placed under orders to join the force under General Phayre which was being formed for the purpose of relieving the Bengal troops in the Southern theatre of operations. In the spring of the year the battery arrived at Kandahar, from whence, shortly afterwards, two of the guns proceeded to Kalat-i-Ghilzai, to reinforce the garrison from that place.

On the 28th July, 1880, two guns of the battery, under the command of Captain Law, accompanied the small mixed force under Brigadier-General Brooke which sallied out from Kandahar to cover the last few miles of the retreat of the scattered remnants of Brigadier-General Burrows’ Brigade from Maiwand, and were instrumental in rendering signal aid. Subsequently withdrawing, on the same day, with the rest of the troops within the walls of Kandahar, the battery took part in the defence throughout the ensuing siege, one gun being posted at the North-East bastion, one at the Bar Durani Gate, one at the Kabul Gate, and one at the Topkhana Gate. On 16 August, the battery was employed in covering the advance of the columns on the ill-starred sortie to Deh Khwaja, after previously shelling the village.

On 24 August the two guns C/2 R.A. on detachment at Kalat-i-Ghilzai, joined, with the rest of the garrison of that place, the force under Sir F. Roberts advancing from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar, and after the arrival of the Division at its destination on the 31st, rejoined the battery.

At the battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, the battery was detached from Brigadier-General Burrows’ command, and throughout the day took part in the operations of the 1st Brigade Kabul-Kandahar Field Force, under Brigadier-General Macpherson, covering the advance of the infantry, and shelling the village of Gandi Mullah Sahibdad. On this day 5 officers and 135 men of the battery were under arms, and the casualties were 2 men wounded and 1 horse killed.