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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 26

Cabul 1842 (Archd. McAuley. Pte. H.M. 31st Regt.), contemporary engraved naming, fitted with replacement silver swivel-ring bar suspension, nearly very fine

Archibald McAuley served as No. 1394 with the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot. The unit took approximately 826 Medals with reverse 'Cabul 1842', the unit famously sharing in the Battle of Mazenia/Mazeena on 26 July 1842. On that day they lost Lieutenant Dalway McIlveen killed in action, the event immortalised by a lithograph print by Day and Haghe of a drawing by Henry Martens, of four soldiers of the 31st Regiment defending their dead officer and wounded fellow soldier during the Battle of Mazeena, Afghanistan, 1842.

'Our loss in this day's fight was considerable; and the 31st Regiment had to lament the death of as brave a young officer as ever belted on a sword. He was shot through the heart in a most gallant attempt to take a sungah on the top of a hill at the point of the bayonet. Only five men were with him, and the sungah was defended by at least fifty Affghans. One of his men was severely wounded at the same moment. When poor McIlveen received the ball, he sat down on a stone and said to the four unwounded soldiers who remained:

"They are too strong for you now, men. They will come at you directly; you had better retreat. Do not encumber yourselves with my body; but take my sword, I should like that to be sent to my mother. I feel very weak."

With these words, he fell back and expired. The Affghans seeing the effect of their fire, rushed down with frightful yells, brandishing their knives, to cut up the bodies according to their invariable custom. But the four brave 31st men determined to die rather than leave their officer's body to be mutilated; and, forming in line before him, they let the enemy come within ten yards of them, when, by a well-directed fire, they killed four and wounded some others. The enemy, not expecting such a warm reception were panic-struck, and ran back to their breast-work, when the brave fellows retreated, bearing with them the body of young McIlveen and their wounded comrade. The soldiers even brought home a door from one of the destroyed forts, and from the wood manufactured a coffin for their officer, so universally was the right feeling towards their superiors diffused among the men of the 31st. Poor McIlveen fell in his first fight; but he died like a soldier, and was deeply regretted by every individual in the corps."

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Estimate

Starting price
£210