Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ali Musjid, Kabul (Lance Naik Sew Dial, Corps of Guides Infy.) slack clasp rivets, edge nicks and minor contact marks, very fine £180-220

Shadbolt states of the Regiment’s part in the Ali Musjid operations:

‘On 20 November [1878], the infantry of the Corps of Guides formed part of the Advance Guard of the 2nd Brigade under Brigadier Tytler, which was ordered to march round the Rhotas Mountains and intercept the enemy’s line of retreat from Ali Musjid up the Khyber Pass at Kata Kushtia. The Guide Cavalry accompanied the attack under Sir Sam Browne on 21 November. About 4 p.m. on the 21st, the Guide Infantry and 1st Sikhs, under Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Jenkins, reached the heights above Kata Kushtia, and were mainly instrumental in causing the evacuation of Ali Musjid during the night. They captured 280 prisoners and 256 Enfield rifles, besides accoutrements of sorts, and 25 horses and mules ....’

And of its part in the Kabul operations:

‘The next day [9 December 1879], the Corps marched towards Kabul, where it arrived on the night of the 11th, having made a forced march of 36 miles from She Baba that day. On the 13th, the Guide Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins, formed part of a force under Brigadier-General Baker employed in taking the heights of Takht-i-Shah and acted in support of the 92nd Highlanders ... On the 14th the Guide Infantry was again attached to Brigadier-General Baker’s Brigade and was engaged in the storming of the Asmai Heights. The advance column, consisting of 72nd Highlanders, 92nd Highlanders, detachment, and Guide Infantry, were under Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins. The Guide Infantry were under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell and lost 13 killed, including one native Officer, and 29 wounded, including Captain Battye and one native Officer. Of the wounded, the native Officer and two men subsequently died. 12 men received the 3rd Class Order of Merit. From 15-23 December, the Corps was employed in the defence of Sherpur. On the morning of the 23rd, in the repulse of the enemy’s attack on the cantonment, the Guides lost two men killed and two wounded, including a native Officer, who afterwards died.’