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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 101

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (47 Bde/366 Pte. T. Griffiths. 70th Foot), light contact marks, very fine

Thomas Griffiths was born in May 1841 in St. Mary Parish, Shrewsbury to John Griffiths, a carpenter, and his wife Ellen. The 1841 census shows the 19-year-old Thomas Griffiths to be living as a lodger in Madley Park, Wenlock, and working as a china painter. Rather unusually, Griffiths did not enlist in the army until he was 35 years old (though he gave his age as 26). He enlisted with the 47th Brigade at Hampton Wick on 20 October 1876 after working as a grainer and a painter. Early in the new year he embarked for India with his Regiment, and arrived at Multan on 27 February 1877.

Griffiths is noted as having served 'on Field Service' from 30 September 1878 until 25 May 1879, during which time the unit entered Afghanistan via the Bolan Pass and Quetta and participated in the march through Kandahar in January 1879. They were not to remain long in Afghanistan, and returned to India after leaving Kandahar in March 1879. Griffiths continued to serve abroad before returning home to England in February 1883 and soon thereafter was discharged to the Army Reserve on 17 March at Shrewsbury. He was not to be discharged from the Army Reserve until 16 November 1892, during which time he continued to live in Shrewsbury and work as a painter; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£50