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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 107

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ahmed Khel (4027. Gr E. Gould. G/4TH R.A.), suspension somewhat slack, good very fine

One of 123 Ahmed Khel clasps issued to G/4th Brigade, R.A.

Edwin Gould was born at Bradford, Yorkshire in 1853 and is recorded living at 4 Jowett Street, Bradford. Attesting at the 2nd Brigade Depot, Liverpool on 5 August 1876 he was accepted despite having been found to have fraudulently enlisted from a Militia engagement that did not expire until 22 December 1881.

Transferred to the 4th Brigade in July 1877 he joined them aboard the troopship Malabar en-route to India in October of that year. Arriving in Allahabad on 30 November they were deployed to Kandahar on the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

They were assembled by General Stewart as part of the force intended to relieve Roberts' Army in Kabul. This formation began its march in March 1880 but was confronted by a large Afghan army at Ahmed Khel in April.

The British seeing the Afghans deployed on the hills to their left swung about and began to deploy with G Battery being deployed to the front of the line. However, before they could complete their manoeuvre they found themselves under attack with the Afghans charging the line in large numbers and actually managing to connect with the British line. Only the steady fire of the regular infantry and guns, including G Battery, managed to stave off disaster, driving the enemy back with heavy losses.

Not long after the Battle Gould was imprisoned for a month, he remained in India for another two years before being invalided in February 1882. Back in Britain he was twice more imprisoned over the course of two years and discharged at Curragh Camp as medically unfit on 10 June 1884, his character was described as 'bad, guilty of repeated absence'; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£80