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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 381

Three: Private J. Moon, 10th Royal Hussars

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (1527 Pte. J. Moon. 10th Rl Hussars.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, El-Teb_Tamaai (1527 Pte. J. Moon 10th Rl. Hussars.); Khedive's Star 1884, heavy pitting, overall nearly very fine (3)

John Moon was born in June 1857 and enlisted at Canterbury on 18 December 1876 with the 10th Royal Hussars. Joining the Regiment in India in February 1878 he was still there when they entered the war in Afghanistan in November of that year.

He was not engaged at the Battle of Ali Masjid but was with General Browne's Field Force as it advanced towards Kabul. A Squadron of the 10th were ordered to cross the Kabul River to attack an Afghan Warband on 31 March 1879. Unfortunately, the ford was not properly marked out and the Hussars were caught in the current, 46 men drowned during the crossing.

Moon was posted aboard the troopship Jumna back to Britain in February 1884, when it was diverted for service in the relief of Khartoum. As such he was present for the Battles of El-Teb and Tamaai at the end of that month.

During the first engagement the British advanced in a single square with the cavalry guarding their flanks and waiting for an opening. However they missed their opportunity and charged early, attacking an unengaged group of Dervishes as the rest swept into the British infantry. The result was a running fighting over broken ground and while the cavalry had the best of the engagement they played no further role in the battle.

The Battle of Tamaai occurred two weeks later in mid-March, the British chose to attack in two squares on this occasion and the cavalry again were kept back to guard the flanks. Famously the Mahdists succeeded in breaking the foremost square during the battle and the infantry only drove them off with the aid of the cavalry who poured fire into the Dervish flank.

Hall embarked on Jumna with his unit on 30 March and returned to Britain, he was discharged by purchase two years later in November 1885 at Aldershot; sold together with copied and typed research.

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Sold for
£850

Starting price
£110