Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Major E. G. G. Hastings Bengal Cavalry) very fine £600-£800

C.B. London Gazette 1 March 1881.

Edward George Godolphin Hastings was born in Bengal, India, in January 1842. He was the son of the Honourable Edward Plantagenet Robin Hood Hastings, and grandson of the 12th Earl of Huntingdon. Hastings was commissioned Lieutenant in August 1859, and advanced to Captain in the General List of Cavalry Officers, Bengal Army, in December 1867. He was promoted Major in October 1878, and took part in the Second Afghan War 1878-80, ‘during the first campaign, from April, 1879, in Political charge of the Khyber Pass, and during the second campaign as Chief Political Officer with the Kuram Division Kabul F.F., senior Political Officer in general charge of the city and district of Kabul, and Chief Political Officer of the Kabul-Kandahar F.F., taking part in the advance on and occupation of Kabul, and the advance from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar, and being present at the action of Charasiab, the operations round Kabul and defence of Sherpur in December 1879, and the battle of Kandahar. (Three times mentioned in despatches; C.B.; Brevet of Lt.-Colonel.)’ (The Afghan Campaigns of 1878-80, by S. H. Shadbolt refers)

Hastings is mentioned several times in Lord Roberts’ Forty-one Years in India, including interviewing Ayub Khan and arranging his abdication, as well for the march specifically:

‘Throughout the march great difficulties were experienced in procuring food, but they were always overcome, with the able assistance of Major Hastings and his Political staff.’

Hastings died at Peshawar in December 1884.