Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Brigade Surgeon W. Finden, Indian Medical Service, who was mentioned in despatches for the Battle of Kandahar

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (Surg-Maj: W. Finden, 2nd Goorkha)); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Surgn. Major W. Finden 2nd Goorkha Regt.); India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1887-89, Samana 1891 (Surgn. Major W. Finden 7th Bl. Cavy.) last clasp loose on riband as issued, light pitting from Star, therefore very fine (3) £600-£800

Woodforde Finden was born in July 1844, and studied at King’s College London and Paris (M.R.C.S. 1865; L.R.C.P. Ed. 1866). He was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Bengal Medical Service in October 1866. Finden advanced to Surgeon Major in October 1878, and ‘served on the Staff of Sir D. Stewart during the advance on and occupation of Kandahar, 1878-79; was in medical charge of the 2nd Goorkhas during the occupation of Kabul; accompanied the Kabul-Kandahar Field Force in the march to the relief of Kandahar, and was present at the battle of Kandahar.’ (The Afghan Campaign of 1878-80, S. H. Shadbolt refers)

Finden was mentioned in Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts’ despatch for Kandahar, 26 September 1880 (London Gazette 3 December 1880). He advanced to Brigade Surgeon in November 1891, and during his service in India he was accompanied by his wife Amelia Woodforde-Finden (née Ward). The latter was a well-known composer of American birth, who wrote and composed her two best known works The Lover in Damascus and the Kashmiri Song whilst in India. Finden retired in December 1891, and died at Harrow in April 1916.