Afghanistan Medal 1878-80. No clasp (Sepoy Runnoo, 1st Punjab Infy)

The recipient was an Indian soldier holding the rank of Sepoy (Private) while serving with the 1st Punjab Infantry (Punjab Frontier Force), of the Bengal Presidency Army

1st Punjab Infantry: Reference 'The Afghan Campaigns of 1878-1880 (S. H. Shadbolt, 1882)':

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On the outbreak of the war the 1st Punjab Infantry was stationed at Quetta, Baluchistan.

Forming part of the Division under General Biddulph’s command, the regiment crossed the frontier on the 20th Nov., 1878, and marched towards the Pishin Valley in Southern Afghanistan.

During the night of the 9th Jan., 1879, 35 men of the regiment, under Subadar Fyztulub, were attacked while on convoy duty at Kila Abdula by some 300 Atchakzais, whom they defeated with great slaughter. Four of the enemy’s dead were found almost on the bayonets of the men. For the judgment of his arrangements and the coolness he displayed, Subadar Fyztulub received, as a special reward, the 1st Class Order of Merit.

On the 12th Jan., 1879, the regiment took part with the other units of the Pishin Moveable Column under Major Keen, 1st P.I., in a night surprise of the hostile Kakarzais in the Arambi Valley. The expedition was successful; and after a number of villages had been destroyed, the regiment returned to Kila Abdula, where it arrived at 5.30 p.m. on the 13th, having marched a distance of 32 miles.

As a unit of the No. 1 Column, Thal-Chotiali F.F., under the command of Major Keen, the 1st Punjab Infantry took part, in the Spring of 1879, in the opening up the new route, eastwards, to India. On the 2 ist March, the rear-guard of the column, under Captain Lome Campbell, 1st P.I., was attacked in a difficult pass by some 200 tribesmen, who were driven off with loss, 1 man of the regiment being killed. On the 24th idem the column arrived at Baghao; and about two hours afterwards the vedettes which were posted galloped into camp with information of the approach of a tribal army of Zhob and Bori Pathans, some 3,000 strong, which was bearing down upon the position in line, and was also covering the hills to the right. Four companies of the ist Punjab Infantry were left to protect the camp, and the remainder of the regiment, under Major Higginson, marched out to meet the advance, a party under Major Vallings being thrown into skirmishing order in front of the artillery. After the guns had fired a few rounds, the enemy’s line was seen to widen out at both ends. To meet this new distribution, the party under Major Vallings at once moved to the left, while two companies under Major Higginson and Captain Campbell were sent to attempt to crown the heights to the right. The hills were extremely precipitous and difficult to ascend ; but the two companies, using hands and feet with the utmost determination, and at times mounting one another’s shoulders, succeeded, under a heavy fire from the enemy and undeterred by rolling masses of rock, in scaling and clearing them. In the meantime the party under Major Vallings, having stopped a rush to the left, followed the now retreating enemy into the gorge out of which they had issued prior to the attack. On this day the regiment lost 2 killed and 5 wounded. The gallant conduct displayed during the action by Majors Higginson and Vallings, Captain Campbell, and Lieut. Pears, was brought to the favourable notice of the Major-General in despatches; and for the excellent services they rendered, Subadar-Major Pyabb Sirdar Bahadur, 1 Jemadar, 1 non-commissioned officer, and 2 Sepoys of the regiment were admitted to the 1st Class Order of Merit.

The next day the march was continued, and on the 21st May, 1879, the regiment eventually arrived at Dera Ismail Khan, after an absence from India of more than two years.

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Condition: VF

Code: 24755