Full medal write up
AFGHANISTAN 1878, CLASP KANDAHAR ‘1718 PTE. J. PERCY. 66TH FOOT.’, EGYPT AND SUDAN 1882, 2 CLASPS SUAKIN 1885, TOFREK ‘667 PTE. J. PERCY. 1/RL BERKS. R:’, ARMY LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT VR ‘667 PTE. J. PERCY. R. BERKS. R:’, KHEDIVES STAR 184-6, REVERSE REGIMENTALLY STAMPED ‘BERKS’ ‘667’.
James Percy, a 23 year old labourer from Perton, Salisbury, enlisted into the 2nd battalion 66th Foot on 12 September 1871. Assigned regimental number 1718, he served with his battalion during the Afghan war of 1878. Medal roll confirms he received the clasped medal and states ‘Engaged in Field Reserve 1st Brgde. Col. Daubeney, 1st Sept.,1880’.
Percy’s service record shows he was at Kandahar on 25 March 1880 and Karachi on 8 November 1880. This is very useful regarding and indication of where he was during the battle of Maiwand because the 25 March 1880 was when the Regiment, consisting of 709 Officers and men arrived at Kandahar. Shortly after arrival, A and E companies were detached to relieve companies of the 59th Foot and were not present at Maiwand. These companies later joined Roberts force that relived Kandahar on 1 September 1880 and received the Kabul to Kandahar Star in addition to their Afghan medal, something no Maiwand participant received. Therefore of the original 709 men at Kandahar, 149 of whom received the Star can be deducted to leave a strength at Kandahar of 560.
https://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/battle-of-maiwand/
Of the above, 516 Officers and men present at Maiwand, 285 were killed and 231 survived the battle survivors (32 of these wounded). If we take these figures from 560, we are left with 44 that weren’t at Maiwand, which includes approximately 25 men that were left at Kandahar with Lieutenant Edwards when the battle was fought. This is not a perfect calculation as small numbers of men probably joined or left the main part of the regiment at Kandahar between 25 March and July 1880. However the numbers would not significantly alter the calculations.
Taking the above into account, Percy was either one of the 199 survivors that weren’t wounded or one of the 44 that weren’t. Though this does not prove Private Percy took part in and survived the battle of Maiwand, it makes it far more likely than not due to his notes in his service records.
Having returned to England after the Afghan war, on 4 October 1882, Percy re-engaged for further service and transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, being given a new regimental number; 667. He served with the battalion in Egypt between January and May 1883 before spending just over a year at Gibraltar. Between August 1884 and May 1886, he was back in Egypt, serving on the Nile Frontier and taking part in the Suakin operations and the battle of Tofrek.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tofrek
Private Percy was finally discharged from the army in September 1892, receiving the Long Service Good Conduct Medal. His service papers confirm the latter and the Afghan medal/clasp, Egypt medal/ clasps and Star.
Condition generally VF, contact marks and minor EKs, Sold with digital copy service and medal rolls.