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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 383

Pair: Private G. Smith, 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (B/266 Pte. G. Smith. 66th Foot); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (B 266 Private Geo: Smith 66th Foot), pitting and contact wear from Star, otherwise very fine (2)

George Smith was born in Beedon, near Wantage, in Berkshire on 12 April 1858 and later worked as a labourer. He enlisted at age eighteen in Newbury on 7 December 1875 and joined the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot at the Depot a few days later. On 8 March 1879 he embarked for India aboard the Jumna and met his Regiment at Kurrachee the next month.

The 66th Foot later participated in the Afghan Campaign and in the early months of 1880 marched to Kandahar from Sibi, with two companies moving to Kalat-i-Ghilzai to relive the 59th Regiment of Foot. That detachment of 'A' and 'E' Companies also joined the march from Kabul to relieve Kandahar, where they arrived on 31 August 1880. Four Regiments of the 66th Foot participated in the Battle the next day.

Soon afterwards, the Regiment departed for India where they stayed only briefly before embarking for England, arriving at Portsmouth on 19 February 1881. From there they were stationed at Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, where Smith remained with Good Conduct pay until his discharge to the Army Reserve on 29 August 1881.

Smith was one of one hundred and one Army Reservists called to the Depot at Reading on 1 August 1882, and he joined the 1/Berkshires in Egypt on 18 September 1882. He returned home and was finally discharged for good on 7 February 1883. Smith's whereabouts thereafter are unknown; sold together with copied research.


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Sold for
£400

Starting price
£100