Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ahmed Khel (4501. Gr. W. Hartley 6/11th. R.A.) traces of brooch mounting to obverse, with replacement suspension, polished, fine to good fine £50-£70

William Hartley was born in Bingley, Yorkshire, in 1855. A moulder, he attested at Sheerness for the Royal Artillery on 29 April 1878, serving in India and Afghanistan from 29 September 1879 to 30 October 1884. Leaving Kandahar on 27 March 1880, Hartley fought at the Battle of Ahmed Khel on 19 April 1880 when a force of 12-15,000 Afghan tribesmen attacked his supply column as it marched towards Kabul; British and Indian forces suffered 17 dead and 124 wounded, whilst contemporary reports put Afghan losses at more than 2,000 men killed in action.

Transferred to Aden on 31 October 1884, Hartley returned home to England on 16 December 1885 and was discharged at Devonport on 24 April 1894. Sold with copied service record which notes his character as ‘fair’.