Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ghuznee 1839 (Saml. Kirby 4th Dragns.) naming impressed in reverse field, with original silver straight bar suspension, good very fine £600-£800

Provenance: Sotheby, March 1980. A similarly named example to ‘Jn. Monks 4th Dragns.’ sold in these rooms on 15 December 2011.

Samuel Kirby was born in the Parish of Romsey, Hampshire, and attested for the 4th Light Dragoons at Salisbury on 30 July 1834, aged 22. He deserted on 2 March 1835, rejoined on 29 May, and was tried and convicted by District Court Martial to Military Confinement and imprisoned from 29 May to 27 June, 1835. He served abroad for 6 years in the ‘East Indies, Scinde and Affghanistan.’ Two squadrons of the regiment joined the army that took part in the 1st Afghan War. They returned after 18 months away and in that time they lost 3 officers and 58 rank and file - all to fever and cholera and none to enemy action. Kirby was discharged at Canterbury Barracks on 10 May 1842, in consequence of disability caused by a severe kick by a horse whilst on duty at Kirkee, Bombay, in 1840. Sold with copied discharge papers and confirmation of Prize Money for the Ghuznee campaign of 1839.