Afghanistan Medal 1878-80. No clasp (Mr L. O. Law. Postmaster, Ali Khel.

Medal Verification: Entitlement to the medal with no clasp to Post-Master Mr. Louis O. Law at Aly Khel (sic) is confirmed per the respective campaign medal roll held at the British Library in the former India Office Library & Records Collections reference file series L/MIL/5/119

Ali Khel (also spelled Ali Kheyl) 1880: Was an important military encampment and base for British and Indian forces during the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878–1880. Located in the northern Kurram Valley region, of the Pathan tribal-lands then bordering British India and Afghanistan. During both British occupation(s) of Ali Khel, 1879-80 (Kurram Field Force in 1879, and the Kabul Field Force in 1880), a 'Field Force Post Office' was established, and under charge of Mr. L. O. Law. The 'Field Force Post Office' at Ali Khel was finally closed in October 1880,  as part of the wider British withdrawal from northern Afghanistan after settling terms with the new Amir, Abdur Rahman Khan, the base at Ali Khel was fully evacuated. The British subsequently granted local independence to the Pathan Turi - who had assisted the British during the Second Afghan War - to administer the Kurram Valley

Louis Otto Law son of George Law (Apothecary later Doctor, Bengal Establishment) was a true 'Son of Empire' who was born at  Seetabuldee, near Nagpore, Central Provinces of British India on, 24 May 1860, and where he was baptized  n 14 September 1860. As a young man, Louis joined rhe Indian Civil Service (Bengal Establishment), and when only 20 years of age, found himself holding the important appointment of Postmaster at the Kabul Field Force Post Office at Ali Khel in the Northern Kurram Valley on the North West Frontier border line with Afghanistan. Following his service in the Second Afghan War, Lous is next shown recorded as Postmaster located at the Military Hill-station of Sabathu (Thackers Directory 1882 refers). By 1883, Louis resigned his appointment as a 'Postmaster', and had taken up employment as an 'Assistant' with the oldest and most famous portrait painters and photographers in British India, 'Bourne & Shepherd' located at their studio in Talbot House, in Simla - the summer-capitol hill-station of British India - where he was the only Britisher employee (Thackers Directory 1883 refers). He remained employed at Simla with 'Bourne & Shepherd' through to, where from 1885, the British staff there had had doubled, to include his younger brother Harley Augustus Law (b.1863). On 29 December 1885, Louis (then 25 years of age) and described as a 'Photographer' married Daisy Grace Prussia, the 20 year old daughter of George Duncan Prussia, at Christchurch, Simla. By 1886, Louis is recorded employed as one of seven European 'Assistants' employed at the Calcutta 'Head-Office' of 'Bourne & Shpehered', located at, 8 Chowringhee Road. 

Indian English  language newspapers of the 1890's contain numerous mentions, adverts and articles  that include reference or about the photography services provided by Louis Law. Prominent in taking Himalayan Region scenes / landscapes, for survey-work and publications, they were also well known for taking photographs of military / regimental subjects. Foremost was their exhaustive catalogue of work done with the Tirah Expeditionary Force 1897-98, see:

- Photographs with the Tirah Expeditionary Force. Published by H. Liddell Morning Post. Allahabad. No date c.?, 1900. Law Bros, Umballa and Kasauli

Scarce to see a Civilian Post-Master's medal named to the specific Post Office where the Post-Master was located A most interesting and desirable medal to a well known British resident of the Himalayan foot-hills

Condition: EF

Code: 26163