Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second Afghan War ‘Deh Khojah’ D.C.M. pair awarded to Private Denis Regan, 2/7th Foot

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (49 Bde./893 Pte. D. Regan. 2/7th Foot. 16th Aug: 1880.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (893. Pte. D. Regan. 2/7th Foot.) light contact marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine (2) £4,000-£5,000

D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 1 June 1881. Awarded for the sortie from Kandahar on the village of Deh Khojah on 16 August 1880. One of 7 D.C.Ms. awarded to the Regiment for the Second Afghan War.

Since July 1880, following the disaster of Maiwand, the 7th Foot were amongst those besieged in the city of Kandahar by Afghan rebels. On 16 August, Lieutenant-General J. M. Primrose, commanding the forces at Kandahar, decided to make a significant sortie in order to silence a battery of Afghan guns firing at the city from the village of Deh Khojah, some 600 yards distant. The forces selected were the British 2/7th Foot and the 19th and 28th regiments of Bombay Native Infantry. During the sortie, the 7th Foot reached the guns almost unaided and spiked them. However, upon withdrawing, the troops were heavily attacked by mounted fanatical Ghazis and it was during this part of the action that the 7th Foot sustained heavy casualties amounting to 22 killed and 30 wounded. Private Ashford of the 2/7th was awarded the Victoria Cross for assisting Lieutenant Chase, Staff Corps, in carrying one of the wounded men into Kandahar.