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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 99

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (6.B/2172. Pte. J. Bredenbach. 1/25th Regt.), one or two minor official corrections to the naming, otherwise very fine

James Bredenbach/Breidenbach was born in St. George's Parish in London circa 1846 and as a child in 1851 was living at 10 Townsend Street in Southwark with his warehouseman father, his mother, and his five siblings. Young Breidenbach found work as a carman (a cart driver) prior to attesting with the 25th (King's Own Borderers) Regiment of Foot at Westminster on 27 May 1864 when he was 18 years old. Just a few days later he joined the 2/25th Foot and served with them at home before being posted to India a few months later.

Breidenbach arrived in Ceylon on 24 December 1864 and remained there until going to mainland India in January 1868. He was later imprisoned for three weeks in November 1870 for being absent from his barracks for four days. At some point he returned to England as the 1871 census records him as being at Fort Elson in Hampshire, and he was imprisoned for a further six days in August of that year. Despite his poor behaviour, Breidenbach reengaged to complete 21 years of service in 1873.

He found himself again posted to India, arriving there on 6 October 1873 and later also spending some time at Aden. In January 1879, he transferred to the 1/25th Foot ahead of being sent again to India in February 1879. Breidenbach served with his new Regiment in the Second Afghan War, during which time his service number was changed to 6B/2172, until being invalided back to England in December 1879 after suffering from dysentery. He arrived in Netley in March 1880 before being sent to the Depot at York shortly afterwards, where the 1881 census records him as living at the New Infantry Barracks.

Breidenbach was discharged to pension on 25 September 1882 at Berwick-upon-Tweed 'prematurely for the benefit of the Public Service', with his character cited as 'good'. After his discharge, Breidenbach intended to live at 38 Brunswick Place in Shoreditch, London. He was eventually married to a Miss Lucy Bevan in late 1885 at St. Saviour in Southwark, London. They later appear on the 1891 census as lodgers at 17 Whitford Place, Plumstead, near Woolwich, with Breidenbach working as an arsenal labourer; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£60