Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Maiwand survivor’s Second Afghan War medal awarded to Private M. Noon, 66th Foot, who was fortunate to escape the battlefield with a gunshot wound in his right thigh

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (B/1580 Pte. M. Noon, 66th Foot), with attractive silver riband brooch-bar for wearing, edge nicks, good very fine £800-1000

Martin Noon, who was born in London, originally enlisted in the 1st Foot in December 1874, but transferred to the 66th Foot in November 1878. As a result, he found himself actively employed in the Second Afghan War, not least on 28 July 1880, when he was wounded by a gunshot in the right thigh at Maiwand (discharge papers refer). Noon, who certainly had a colourful career, was discharged to the Army Reserve in December 1882, his conduct being being assessed as ‘Bad - Has been guilty of desertion and frequent acts of absence.’