AFGHANISTAN MEDAL

A RARE 9TH LANCERS AFGHANISTAN 1878 TO A PRIVATE WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE FAMED CAVALRY CHARGE AT KILLA KAZI. HIS BODY WAS DISCOVERED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THIS REVEALING HE’D DIED OF “GUN SHOT WOUNDS AND SWORD CUTS”. THE 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

AFGHANISTAN 1878, 2 CLASPS, CHARASIA, KABUL ‘1475. PTE. A. DONCASTER. 9TH LANCERS.’

Arthur Doncaster was enlisted with the 9th Lancers at London on 16 September 1872 and saw home service for several years before being posted to India, arriving on 12 February 1875. Serving with ‘A’ Troop, Doncaster and the regiment entered the Second Afghan War in December 1878 with 'A' Troop, being detached as part of a squadron of the 9th Lancers that joined General Roberts' Peshawar Valley Field Force.

This detached Squadron took part in the Battle of Charasia on 6 October 1879, where the British drove a large Afghan army from the heights before Kabul. The cavalry was unleashed after the action and captured a number of Afghan guns, effectively ending any immediate resistance. After the Battle the rest of the 9th Lancers arrived, and the Squadron rejoined them for what proved an uncomfortable winter in Kabul.

The British settled down in Kabul after the Battle but soon found themselves virtually under siege as local warlords and religious leaders roused the countryside into a frenzy. Soon enormous bands of Ghazis were to be found in the nearby hills and repeated patrols and sorties were launched to disperse them.

On 11 December 1879, a squadron of the 9th Lancers, escorting four horse artillery guns, encountered a huge Afghan force near Killa Kazi;

‘An unbroken line extending for about two miles and formed of not less than between 9,000 and 10,000 men, was moving rapidly towards me, all on foot save a small body of cavalry on their left flank - in fact the greater part of Mohammed Jan’s army. To meet this formidable array, instead of Macphearson’s and Massy’s forces, which I had hoped I should find combined, there were but 4 guns, 198 of the 9th Lancers under Lieutenant-Colonel Cleland, 40 of the Bengal Lancers under Captain Philip Neville, and at some little distance Gough’s troop of the 9th Lancers, who were engaged in watching the enemy’s cavalry.’

Massy was ordered to bring the 4 guns into action but with such a large force advancing on them their fire was ineffective, and they were forced to fall back. To avoid losing the guns, Roberts gave the order for the 126 men of the 9th Lancers and 44 of the 14th Bengal Lancers to charge around 10,000 Afghans! This small force.

‘rode straight into the seething, raging sea of armed men, whilst Gough’s troop of 9th Lancers sought to confuse the enemy by a flank attack. Received with a terrific discharge of musketry, clouds of dust and smoke quickly hid the devoted band from the eyes of the anxious spectators; then, out of those clouds, horses were seen to come galloping back, some riderless, some with riders swaying in their saddles. Among the wounded were the gallant Cleland, his bridle arm badly sabred, a bullet in his stomach, and young Hearsey, shot through the lungs, who fell to the ground dead, as his horse stopped short. The charge had done nothing to improve the general situation ...’

The Royal Horse Artillery lost 2 of their 4 guns and one of their Officers killed during the retreat from the field of battle. Lieutenants Forbes of the 14th Lancers, and Hersey and Ricardo of the 9th Lancers were killed in action, in addition to 21 other ranks also killed. A further 12 officers and men were wounded, 46 horses also being lost, the 14th Bengal Lancers lost 10 Officers and Men killed and wounded. The Reverend James Adams was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing some men.

Private Doncaster was one of the 9th Lancers to be killed during the action, A Troop being one of the troops that charged the Afghan force head on.

On 29 December 1879, part of the squadron that returned to the Chardeh Valley to search for any missing bodies from the battle of 11 December. One 9th Lancer (Private Arthur Doncaster) was found, as well as some artillery men and 14th Bengal Lancers. Doncaster’s body revealed he’d died of “gun shot wounds and sword cuts”.

Condition NEF, sold together with copied research, both paper and digital.

In addition to this being a superb and rare casualty medal, just 87 Charasia clasps were issued to the Regiment.