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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 291

An impressive campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. F. Rowcroft, 3rd and 4th Gurkha Rifles, who was wounded and thrice 'mentioned' during the Afghanistan operations

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Northwest Frontier, Bhootan (Lieut. F. F. Rowcroft 3rd Goorkha Regt.), the 3 inverted; Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Ali Musjid, Kabul, Kandahar (Lt. Col. F. F. Rowcroft. 4th Goorkha); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Lieut: Colonel F. F. Rowcroft 4th Goorkha Regiment), good very fine (3)

Francis Frederick Rowcroft was born in India and baptised at Fategarh on 21 January 1835. Having been educated at Bedford Grammar and the Civil Engineering School at Putney, he was commissioned Ensign in the 3rd Gurkhas in December 1853 and served in the Sonthal Campaign, 1855-56, having been made Lieutenant in November 1856 and thence with the Bhootan Field Force (Medal & clasp), before also serving in the Hazara Campaign (clasp). He was made Captain in December 1865 and Major in December 1873.

Transferred to the 4th Gurkhas, he served in Afghanistan, during which he took part in the capture of Ali Musjid and the forcing of the Khyber Pass, the 2nd Bazar Valley Expedition, the persuit of Amatallah Khan. He was also present in the advance to the relief of Sherpur, the fighting at Jagdalak and at Shekabad, whence he commanded a Column. He served in the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar and the reconnaissance of 31 August 1880 before the Battle itself, when he was wounded in action. Having concluded in the operations against the Marris, he finished the War having also been thrice 'mentioned' (Medal & 3 clasps, Star). Concluding his career as Commandant of the 44th Bengal Native Infantry (later 8th Gurkha Rifles), he died at Brighton on 29 November 1883; sold together with copied research including a number of group photographs in which he is indentified.

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Sold for
£3,800

Starting price
£600