AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE SECOND AFGHAN WAR 9TH LANCERS D.C.M. GROUP AWARDED FOR GALLANTRY DURING THE FAMED CAVALRY CHARGE AT KILLA KAZI AND HIS SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS COVERING THE RETREAT OF THE GUNS ON 11 DECEMBER 1879. THE CAVALRY ACTION AT KILLA KAZI WAS A DISASTER FOR THE BRITISH, THE CAVALRY LOOSING HEAVILY AND THE ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY LOOSING TWO OF THEIR FOUR GUNS

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, V.R. ‘TROOP SERGT. MAJOR. H. ENGLAND, 9TH. LANCERS.’, AFGHANISTAN 1878-80, 2 CLASPS, KABUL, KANDAHAR ‘548. TP: SGT. MAJ: H. ENGLAND. 9TH. LANCERS.’, KABUL TO KANDAHAR STAR 1880 (548 TROOP SERGT. MAJOR H. ENGLAND 9TH. LANCERS’, ARMY L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3RD ISSUE, SMALL LETTER REVERSE ‘548 TP. SGT. MAJ: H. ENGLAND, 9TH. LANCERS’

D.C.M. submitted to the Queen 5 April 1880; ‘For his gallant conduct when charging with Captain Gough’s Troop, and afterwards in covering the retreat.’

Henry England, a 20 year old Groom from Salisbury, Wiltshire, attested for the 9th Lancers at Aldershot on 3 January 1862. Promoted Corporal on 21 February 1866 and Sergeant on 10 September 1868, he was appointed Troop Sergeant Major on 9 February 1874. Serving with the 9th Lancers in India and Afghanistan from 9 January 1875 to 6 December 1882, including service during the Second Afghan War, 1879-80. During the latter, he served as Troop Sergeant Major of ‘E’ Troop, under Captain Gough and ‘distinguished himself in the Field at Killa Kazi in front of Kabul on 11 December 1879’ (the recipient’s service record refers), and it was for this action that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Taking part in the subsequent actions leading up to the battle of Kabul, during ………………….

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Captain Gough’s ‘E’ troop played a particularly active part in the action at Kila Kazi. Not only were the involved in the initial charge against the massed Afghan’s forces, but with the troop of the 14th Bengal Lancers, made a second charge. After which, having kept together as an effective body, they were able to get between their guns and the advancing enemy, providing a rearguard that briefly helped keep the Afghan’s in Check. As Troop Sergeant Major of this troop, Sergeant Major England’s command skills and courage would certainly have been a factor in the part ‘E’ troop played at Kila Kazi, a factor that led to the award of his D.C.M. Just 61 D.C.M.’s were awarded for the for the Afghan War 1878-80, Troop Sergeant Major England’s being the first 9th Lancers D.C.M. to come up for sale in many years.

Condition VF, light contact marks. Sold with copied record of service, 1901 War Office letter giving citation for D.C.M., ‘The Afghan War of 1879’ by Hensman and other research on CD.

An outstanding and rare Afghan war D.C.M. group to one of the most celebrated Cavalry charges of the Victorian era; the others being the 16th Lancers at Aliwal, The Light and Heavy Brigades at Balaclava and the 21st Lancers at Omdurman.