Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Kabul to Kandahar Star awarded to Private Patrick Gillan, 72nd Highlanders, who won the D.C.M. for gallantry on the Asmai Heights above Kabul

Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (58B/1007 Private P. Gillan, 72nd Highlanders) sometime lightly gilded, otherwise nearly very fine £350-400

D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 20 March 1880, ‘for conspicuous gallantry in the recent engagements near Kabul.’

The official history of The Afghan War 1879-80 gives the following details in a description of the attack on the Asmai Heights on 1 December 1879: ‘Colonel Jenkins then worked his way under a heavy fire along the crest, which has a total length of a quarter of a mile; and there only remained the southern sangar, built on the peak of the hill, to be taken. In this sangar, which was unusually strong, were forty or fifty men who, by their fire, checked the advance for some time. Major Stockwell, with a few Highlanders, passed through a gap in the wall which runs down the ridge, and galled the ghazis by a cross fire. Private Gillon, of the 72nd, climbed up the wall, and, creeping along the top, pulled out a standard from among the stones of the sangar.’ Lance-Corporal Seller won the Victoria Cross in this same attack.

Patrick Gillan was born in the Parish of Mary Hill, Glasgow, and joined the 72nd Highlanders in August 1877. He served in Afghanistan 1879-80, in Egypt in 1882, and was discharged to the Reserve in August 1889. His character was then described as ‘Bad, owing to drunkeness and absence’, but also that he was ‘awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry at assault of the Asmai Heights, Kabul, 1st December 1879.’ Gillan also received the Afghan medal with clasps for Charasia, Kabul and Kandahar, together with the Egypt medal for Tel-el-Kebir and Khedive’s Star. Sold with copy discharge papers and full research.