__NOTOC__ The Afghanistan Medal, sanctioned on 19 March 1881, was awarded to members of the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

armies who served in Afghanistan between 1878 and 1880 during the

Second Afghan War The Second Anglo-Afghan War (Dari: جنگ دوم افغان و انگلیس, ps, د افغان-انګرېز دويمه جګړه) was a military conflict fought between the British Raj and the Emirate of Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the ...

, the first war being from 1839 to 1842. The war was caused by British fears of increasing Russian involvement in Afghan affairs. In 1877 the Afghan Amir refused to accept a British

Resident Resident may refer to: People and functions * Resident minister, a representative of a government in a foreign country * Resident (medicine), a stage of postgraduate medical training * Resident (pharmacy), a stage of postgraduate pharmaceuti ...

and in 1878 agreed a treaty with Russia granting it protective rights in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

. In response, a British-led force entered the country in November 1878 and advanced on Kabul. After defeats at Ali Musjid and Peiwar Kotal, the Afghans sued for peace and accepted a

British Resident A resident minister, or resident for short, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indi ...

in Kabul, the war ending on 26 May 1879. After the Resident was murdered on 3 September 1879, the war recommenced. A British-led force occupied Kabul, defeating the Afghans en route at Charasia. Sporadic fighting continued and after defeat at

Maiwand Maiwand is a village in Afghanistan within the Maywand District of Kandahar Province. It is located 50 miles northwest of Kandahar, on the main Kandahar– Lashkargah road. The area is irrigated by the Helmand and Arghandab Valley Authority.

, a British force was besieged in Kandahar. General Roberts led a column that marched from Kabul to relieve

Kandahar Kandahar (; Kandahār, , Qandahār) is a List of cities in Afghanistan, city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on the Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city after Kabul, with a population ...

, the resulting Afghan defeat leading to the conclusion of the war in September 1880.Roberts, pp 351-494. The soldiers who took part in General Roberts' march were awarded the

Kabul to Kandahar Star The Kabul to Kandahar Star, also known as the Roberts Star or Kandahar Bronze Star was awarded to those British and Indian troops who participated in the 320 mile march from Kabul to Kandahar in Afghanistan between 9–31 August 1880, under the co ...

in addition to the Afghanistan Medal.Dorling, p 67. Medals awarded to the

66th Foot The 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1756. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Princess Cha ...

(

Berkshire Regiment The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was created in 1881, as the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), b ...

) and E Battery of B Brigade,

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

, rate a high premium as these units sustained the heaviest casualties at the battle of

in July 1880.Mussel, p 150. When the first phase of the war ended in May 1879, it was proposed that the India General Service Medal be issued with clasps for ''Afghanistan'', ''Ali Musjid'' and ''Peiwar Kotal''. However, when the war recommenced in September 1879, it was decided to award a distinct medal to cover the whole campaign.Mayo, p 402.

Description

The Afghanistan Medal is a circular

silver Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...

medal, in diameter, with the following design:Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin, pp 155-156. *The obverse shows a veiled effigy of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

, facing left, with "VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX" around the edge. *The reverse shows marching and mounted soldiers with arms with an elephant carrying a cannon. In the upper-left of the medal around the edges is "AFGHANISTAN" and on the bottom in a straight line is "1878-79-80" *The medal hangs from a plain suspender which is attached to the medal with a double toe claw. The ribbon is wide and is dark green with broad crimson edges. *The recipient's rank, name and unit are engraved on the rim of the medal. *Plain silver clasps were awarded and are found as follows: **" ALI MUSJID" (21 November 1878) **" PEIWAR KOTAL" (2 December 1878) **" CHARASIA" (6 October 1879) **"

KABUL Kabul (; ps, , ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province; it is administratively divided into 22 municipal districts. Acco ...

" (10–23 December 1879) **"

AHMED KHEL Ahmed Khel is a town and union council in Lakki Marwat District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-mo ...

" (19 April 1880) **"

KANDAHAR Kandahar (; Kandahār, , Qandahār) is a List of cities in Afghanistan, city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on the Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city after Kabul, with a population ...

" (1 September 1880) The maximum number of clasps awarded to any one man was four. The medal was awarded without a clasp to those who saw service in Afghanistan between 22 November 1878 – 26 May 1879, or 3 September 1879 – 20 September 1880, but did not take part in these major actions.Mayo, p 406.

Notes

Bibliography

*Dorling, Captain H. Taprell. (1956) ''Ribbons and Medals''. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London, UK. *Duckers, P. (2000) ''British Campaign Medals 1815–1914''. Shire Publications Limited, Buckinghamshire, UK. *Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. (1988) ''British Battles and Medals''. Spink & Son, London, UK. *Mayo, John Horsley. (1897)
''Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Volume II''
A. Constable & Co, London, UK. *Mussel, J (eds). (2015) ''Medals Yearbook – 2015''. Token Publishing Limited, Devon, UK. * Roberts, Field Marshal Lord. (1897)
''Forty-one Years in India''
Richard Bentley & Son, London, UK.

External links

''The Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880''
{{Anglo-Afghan War British campaign medals Anglo-Afghan Wars Awards established in 1881 1881 establishments in the British Empire

Description

See also

Notes

Bibliography

External links