Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part III)

The Second Afghan War Medal to Colonel J. P. Napier, 10th Hussars, 3rd Baron Napier of Magdala and Caryngton, who narrowly escaped death by drowning at the disastrous crossing of the Kabul River in March 1879

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lieut. Hon. J. P. Napier, 10th Rl. Hussars) very fine £1800-2200

James Pierce Napier was born on 30 December 1849, the third son of Field Marshal Lord Napier of Magdala. He was educated at Cheltenham College and Jesus College, Cambridge where he gained a B.A. He was commissioned into the 10th Hussars in 1872, and in the following year embarked with the regiment for India, where his father was then commander-in-chief.

The 10th Hussars served in the Second Afghan War and the young Lieutenant Napier was with them when they attempted to cross the Kabul River at the fords of Kaleh-i-Izack on the night of 31 March 1879. He narrowly escaped death by drowning, being swept off his horse and weighed down by his heavy boots, sword, revolver and ammunition. Struggling, he managed to get to the shallows but had to be helped by Private Crowley of the 10th Hussars to the safety of the shore. For his assistance, the grateful Napier later presented Private Crowley with a gold watch and chain. The disastrous crossing of the Kabul River claimed the lives of 46 officers and men and 13 horses of the 10th Hussars.

Napier was promoted Captain in 1879 and passed into the Staff College in 1884, obtaining his majority in March the same year. After graduating from Camberley he was appointed Brigade-Major at Shorncliffe in 1887 and three years later went as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General to the North-Eastern District where he remained for seven years. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1892, was placed on Half Pay in 1897 and attained the rank of Colonel in 1900 when he became Assistant Adjutant General , Southern Command, a post he held until 1903. He retired from the Army in February 1905.

Colonel Napier succeeded his eldest brother, the second baron, in 1921, his second brother having died in 1914. Lord James Pierce Napier died in May 1935 and was succeeded by his half brother, The Hon. Edward Herbert Scott Napier to the title. Sold with copied research on the recipient and the Kabul River incident.

The disastrous crossing of the Kabul River was the subject of a famous poem by Rudyard Kipling, which opens:

‘Kabul town’s by Kabul river,
Blow the bugle, draw the sword,
There I left my mate for ever,
Wet and dripping by the ford.
Ford, ford, ford of Kabul river,
Ford o’Kabul river in the dark!
There’s the river up and brimming,
And there’s half a squadron swimming
‘Cross the ford of Kabul river in the dark....’