Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (2023 Pte. W. Smith, 92nd Highrs.) contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine £800-1000

2023 Private William Smith, 92nd Highlanders, was severely wounded in the right hand by a gunshot at Kandahar on 1 September 1880, when the regiment supplied one of the two leading battalions in the right attack. Having been engaged in the successive captures of the villages of Gandi Mullah Sahibdad and Pir Paimai, the 92nd finally carried - at the point of the bayonet - the entrenched position on which the enemy had taken up their last stand. The regiment sustained casualties of 14 killed and 72 wounded, Smith, as stated, being among the latter.

He was again on the sharp end of enemy fire at Majuba Hill on 3 April 1881, Captain MacGregor of the 92nd afterwards reporting, ‘I had had enough of this carnage and asked Lieutenant Wright to wave a white handkerchief. The handkerchief however only drew more fire. Private Smith then tried to signal and he was wounded with buckshot by a Kaffir ... ’

British Casualties of the First Boer War 1880-81, by Kenneth C. Lovell and John C. Prior, states no regimental number was allocated to the ‘Private William Smith’ listed on the 92nd’s susbequent casualty return.

The recipient was not wounded at Majuba Hill, revised estimate £400-500