Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80

[Gunner1984]

That makes sense. Thanks for the information - it was unusual, I'd never seen that naming on a medal before.

Regards

Chris

[Gunner1984]

Garen,

Another for your files:

James David Slater
Sergeant, 7274
Royal Artillery


James David Slater was born in Devonport, Plymouth in February 1852. His father, John, was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery who joined as a Drummer aged 14 and served for a total of 26 years, 247 days before being medically discharged in June 1855. Following John’s discharge the family moved to Woolwich in 1856 where James, on leaving school, worked as a labourer and a stableman before attesting into the British Army on the 17th of May 1871 aged 19 years and 3 months. He joined the Royal Artillery, signing on for 12 years service with the Colours and was posted to the 2nd Division, Depot Brigade in Woolwich.

James spent just under 3 years with the Depot Brigade, going absent without leave (AWOL) on 4 occasions between August 1873 and January 1874. It was on one of these occasions, on Christmas Day 1873, that he married Henrietta Whitehead (b.1854) without the permission of the chain of command, at the Parish church in Woolwich. For his transgressions, James was imprisoned for 7 days and forfeited his Good Conduct pay. Perhaps as a result of his poor behaviour, James was posted to A Battery, 8th Brigade (A/8) Royal Artillery (RA) who were stationed in Jullunder, India. He sailed aboard the troopship Crocodile, leaving England and his new wife on the 13th of January 1874 and arriving in India on the 18th of February.

The shock of being sent abroad clearly had an impact on James who it appears settled down to become a model soldier, completing his 2nd class certificate of education and having his Good Conduct pay reinstated. During 1875, A/8 was re-equipped with new Armstrong Rifled-Muzzle Loading (RML) 9-pounder guns and, on the 17th of November 1875, James was appointed acting-Bombardier. Under a reorganisation of the Royal Artillery in July 1877, A/8 became A Battery, 3rd Brigade (A/3).

On the 1st of February 1878, A/3 were posted to Barrackpore and James’ rise up the ranks continued, promoting to Bombardier on the 4th of February 1878, Corporal on the 6th of December 1878 and Sergeant on the 14th of May 1879. He was temporarily attached to 5th Brigade RA for 6 months, returning to A/3 in November 1879. On the 17th of March 1880, A/3 were moved to Meerut where, on the 22nd of July, having completed almost 9 years service, James changed the terms of his service, signing up for a total of 21 years. Shortly afterwards, on the 1st of August, James was transferred to A Battery, 4th Brigade (A/4) RA which travelled from Meerut to Sukkur almost immediately. 

On receipt of the news of the disastrous defeat of the British forces at the Battle of Maiwand on the 27th of July 1880, it was decided that Kandahar, which was besieged by the victorious Afghan rebels, must be relieved. Consequently, a Divisional force was formed at Quetta under General Phayre to advance towards Kandahar, supported by A/4. The going proved difficult through Sind and the Bolan Pass at the hottest time of year, and they entered Afghanistan on the 25th of August. General Phayre’s column were only 30 miles from Kandahar when they received the news that the Kabul-Kandahar Field Force under General Roberts had already reached and relieved Kandahar. A/4 with the rest of the Quetta Field Force returned to Sukkar on the 20th of September.

On the 1st of March 1881, James was transferred to A/2 at Kirkee where, after over 8 years apart, he was finally joined by his wife Henrietta in January 1882. Later that year, on the 23rd of December James was promoted to Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant (BQMS) and A/2 moved to Ahmedabad in January 1884. After a total of 11 years and 32 days in India, James sailed from India aboard the troopship HMS Malabar on the 21st of March 1885, arriving in England on the 20th of April.

Upon his return to England, James was transferred to I Battery, 2nd Brigade (I/2) RA who were stationed in Woolwich and who were subsequently moved to Exeter on the 27th of July 1887 and then Coventry a year later. On the 1st of July 1889, after 18 years and 45 days service, James was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct (LSGC) medal. The following August saw I/2 move again, this time to Weedon Bec in Northamptonshire. As he approached the end of his contracted service in May 1892, James signed to continue his service beyond 21 years and the following month he was promoted to Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant (RQMS) and transferred to the 1st Depot Division in Woolwich.

James’ final posting came in April 1895 when he was transferred to 4th Mountain Battery RA who were based in Newport. After serving with the battery for 11 months James submitted the required 3 months notice of his intention to take his discharge. James was finally discharged on the 31st of May 1896, having completed a total of 25 years and 15 days service.

On discharge, James and Henrietta moved back to Woolwich where James was employed as bookkeeper at the Royal Arsenal which was responsible for armament manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces.

[Gunner1984]

...and another

Henry Emery
Gunner, 7959
Royal Artillery

Henry Emery was born in January 1853 to Frances, a brickmaker, and Phillis Emery in Hounslow, Middlesex. Shortly thereafter Frances died, and Phillis remarried Thomas Morris, a road labourer. Henry worked as a labourer in the Hounslow Powder Mill, manufacturing gunpowder and was also a volunteer in the 5th Middlesex Light Infantry Militia. On the 26th of June 1872, aged 19 years and 6 months, Henry enlisted in the Royal Artillery (RA), attesting for 12 years’ service.

Initially posted to 1st Brigade (1 Bde) RA, Henry transferred to the 24 Bde in April 1875 which became 5 Bde on the 1st of July 1877. Later that year, on the 20th of October, Henry and 5 Bde set sail for India aboard HMS Malabar, landing on the 23rd of November. On the 31st of March 1879, Henry was transferred to ‘G’ Battery, 3 Bde (G/3) with whom he would serve in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

G/3 had already seen service during the first phase of the war, notably during the Battle of Peiwar Kotal in December 1878. At the resumption of hostilities in Autumn 1879, G/3 were based in the Kuram Valley, South-East of Kabul and under the command of General ‘Bobs’ Roberts. The Division began its advance on Kabul on the 25th of September, defeating the Afghans at the Battle of Charasia on the 6th of October, arriving in the Afghan capital in November. Over the next month, Henry and the rest of G/3 were frequently engaged in operations in the countryside surrounding the city, withdrawing into the Sherpur Cantonments on the 14th of December. It was here that the British forces were besieged until finally repulsing and defeating their attackers on the 23rd of December. The battery remained at Kabul for the remainder of the war before returning to India, arriving in Peshawar on the 25th of August 1880.

In January 1881, Henry and G/3 sailed for South Africa where they would spend the following 12 months. They subsequently returned to England, arriving on the 20th of January 1882. On the 11th of March the same year, Henry was promoted to Bombardier shortly before 3 Bde was renumbered as 1 Bde. Approaching the end of his 12 years’ service, Henry re-engaged for a total of 21 years on the 26th of January 1883. Shortly afterwards, having spent just over a year back in England, on the 28th of February 1883, 1 Bde departed for India aboard HMS Serapis, landing on the 31st of March. During this voyage, Henry was promoted to Corporal.

Henry only spent 18 months in India, during which time he promoted to Sergeant in May 1884. He returned to England, sailing on HMS Crocodile, and landing on the 30th of November 1884 before transferring to the Permanent Staff of 5 Bde, Scottish Division RA, a militia unit, on the 3rd of March 1886. This was renamed the Forfar and Kincardine Artillery (Scottish Division) in July 1889 and the 1891 Census shows Henry was stationed at Panmure Barracks in Montrose, Scotland. On the 1st of May 1892, Henry married his third wife, Robina Mathers in Aberdeen and, four days later, Henry was promoted to Company Sergeant Major. Finally, having served for a total of 21 years and 126 days, Henry was discharged from the Army on the 31st of October 1893. He and Robina remained living in Montrose.

[NSWP]

Back then in Royal Artillery it appears Bombardier and Corporal were different ranks as both the last two narratives mention promotion from Bombardier to corporal.   In later years and to the present time, lower ranks in Royal Artillery were: Gunner, Lance Bombardier (1 stripe) Bombardier (2 stripes) then Sergeant...etc.

[Garen]

...and another

Henry Emery
Gunner, 7959
Royal Artillery

...

Thank you very much for these excellent biographies, Chris. Apologies for the late reply (work, work, work). Have a lovely Christmas!

- Garen.

[Gunner1984]

Garen,

Happy New Year - I've added a couple more to the collection over the festive period:

Job Dovey
Sergeant, 11232
Royal Artillery

Job was born in the village of Claines near Worcester on the 29th of March 1851. He was the 6th child of Joseph, an agricultural labourer, and Mary Dovey (née Knight) and he is recorded as being employed as a farm labourer. His mother died in May1858 when Job was just 7 years old.

On the 20th of March 1871, aged 19 years and 11 months, Job enlisted into the Army at Worcester, signing on for 12 years’ service. Initially posted to 1st Division, Depot Brigade, Job was posted to 4th Brigade Royal Artillery (4 Bde RA) in August 1871 and embarked for India on the 14th of January 1875 for what would be over 14 years abroad. In July 1877, 4 Bde was renumbered as 2 Bde and Job was a member of C Battery (C/2).

At the end of January 1880 C/2, then stationed at Hyderabad, was placed under orders to join the force under General Phayre which was being formed for the purpose of relieving troops in the south of Afghanistan. In April, Job and the battery arrived in Kandahar, from where two of the guns proceeded to Kelat-i-Ghilzai to reinforce the garrison. On the 28th of July, two guns of the battery accompanied the small mixed force under Brigadier-General Brooke which sallied out from Kandahar to cover the last few miles of the retreat of the survivors from the Battle of Maiwand. Withdrawing into the city, the battery took part in the defence of Kandahar throughout the subsequent siege. This was lifted on the 31st of August when General Roberts’ relief column, including C/2’s guns from Kelat-i-Ghilzai arrived from Kabul. The following day the battery was employed covering the advance of the infantry during the decisive victory of the Battle of Kandahar, which effectively ended the war. On the division being broken up, and the forces in Southern Afghanistan reorganized, the battery was ordered back to India, arriving in mid-November 1880.

Job was promoted to the rank of Bombardier on the 8th of September 1882, having been in Acting rank for nearly 2 years. Shortly thereafter and approaching the end of his 12 years of service, Job re-engaged into the Army in October 1882 and was subsequently promoted to Corporal on the 19th of February 1883. A little under a year later, Job transferred to C Battery, 1 Brigade (C/1) and was promoted again to Sergeant on the 9th of April 1885. Job again transferred, this time to I Battery, 3 Brigade (I/3) in December 1887 and finally left India for England after 14 years and 102 days abroad.

Arriving back in England on the 1st of May 1889 aboard HMS Crocodile, 2 months later in July, Job was again transferred, this time to 32 Field Battery RA with whom he spent the remainder of his time in the Army. He was discharged on the 19th of March 1892, having completed a total of 21 years reckonable service.

Upon discharge Job worked as a baker in the village of Salwarpe near Worcester, a few miles from the village of his birth.

Job was married twice. He married Marian Eves in Hyderabad, India on the 21st of October 1879. Whilst stationed in India, Job and Marian had 6 children but only one, Henry (born 3rd of March 1882) survived childhood, with four dying in infancy. Marian died on the 23rd of October 1888, aged 35.

On the 1st of December 1889, Job married Elizabeth Cartwright (the niece of Job’s brother’s second wife), at St Leonard’s Church in Streatham, London. In addition to Henry, they went on to have an additional 5 children: Percy (b.1892), Joseph (b.1895), Arthur (b.1896), Mildred (b.1898), and Albert (b.1900).

Having sadly become a widower, Job would also outlive three of his children who died as a result of military service in the First World War. Henry, the only surviving child from Job’s first marriage, was a Sergeant in 41 Battery, 42nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France when he was killed in action on the 24th of September 1914. Arthur was a Private with the 11th Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment and was killed in action on the 12th of October 1916 in Thessaloniki, on the Macedonian Front. Percy, the eldest child from Job’s second marriage, served with the 7th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment and was medically discharged in February 1918 as result of illness attributed to his service. He subsequently died of Tuberculosis in May 1920. Fortunately, Joseph, who enlisted in 1915 and served with the Worcestershire Yeomanry in the Middle East survived the War and died in 1954. Job became a widower for the second time when Elizabeth died on the 6th of December 1916.

Job died on the 28th of December 1923 in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire aged 72. He was buried alongside Elizabeth in St Michael’s Churchyard, in the village of Salwarpe. Attached is a photo of Job with his son, Henry c.1889.

[Gunner1984]

Joseph Richard Beeforth
Gunner, 536
Royal Artillery

Joseph Richard Beeforth was born in Hampstead, London on the 15th of November 1842. He was the fifth of six children born to Sarah (née Burch) and John, a vestry beadle or church messenger.

In November 1860, having just turned 18, Joseph attested into the British Army and joined the Cape Mounted Riflemen (CMR) and served for a total of 9 years and 217 days. This unusual regiment consisted of both black and white soldiers and was part of Cape Colony’s frontier defences, and Joseph spent a total of 8 years and 2 months in South Africa. In 1869 the British Government decided to reduce the garrison in the Cape Colony and the following year the regiment was brought home to England to be disbanded. Joseph, now aged 28, was discharged in July 1870 but quickly re-joined the Army, enlisting into the Royal Artillery (RA) on the 30th of August 1870 at Westminster for a further 12 years.

Following his re-enlistment, Joseph was transferred to 1st Division Depot Brigade and spent a number of months on home service. On the 4th of February 1871, Joseph was sent overseas and stationed in Gibraltar where he was transferred to 15 Brigade (Bde) RA on the 28th of February. Joseph spent 3 years and 9 months in Gibraltar, returning home on the 1st of November 1874 for the winter. A further transfer followed on the 1st of February 1875, this time to 4 Bde RA who were based in north-west India with Joseph departing England on the 9th of February 1875, landing in India on the 15th of March. On the 1st of July 1877, British Army restructuring led to 4 Bde RA being renumbered as 2 Bde RA with Joseph joining D Battery (D/2).

Following the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Afghan War in November 1878, D/2 formed part of the Army’s Multan Division under the command of Lieutenant General Stewart. One of three columns that invaded the country, Stewart’s force marched into southern Afghanistan by way of the Bolan Pass to Quetta and then onto the city of Kandahar, arriving on the 9th of January 1879. A week later D/2 took part in the advance on Kalat-i-Ghilzai before returning to Kandahar where it formed part of the garrison for the next 8 months. Following this period and the end of the first phase of the war, D/2 was ordered back to India, returning by the same route to its station of Kirkee. It was to play no further part in the war.

On the 16th of September 1881, Joseph was admitted to hospital in Kirkee suffering from impaired vision. On his attestation records, Joseph was noted to suffer from short-sightedness and his re-enlistment was subject to review at the time, however he was deemed fit enough to continue to serve. Following this hospital admission, Joseph was recommended for return to England, and he departed aboard HMS Crocodile on the 15th of November, arriving back home on the 16th of December 1881.

On the 11th of January 1882, Joseph appeared before a medical board at Herbert Hospital in Woolwich where he was found unfit for further service and recommended for discharge. His pension records indicate that his previous condition may have been aggravated by his service in India. Joseph was discharged on the 28th of January 1882 having served a total of 20 years and 95 days.

Joseph is not recorded as ever marrying or having children. He died on the 6th of June 1906.

[Gunner1984]

Samuel Marrall
Driver, 5326
Royal Artillery

Samuel Marrall attested into the British Army on the 31st of July 1874, joining the Royal Artillery (RA) and was subsequently posted to G Battery, 4 Brigade RA (G/4), stationed in India.

As part of Lieutenant General Stewart’s Division, on the 4th of November 1878, G/4 began its march to Quetta, arriving on Boxing Day after an arduous journey. It then began to advance on Kandahar, arriving on the 9th of January 1879. Less than a week later on the 14th of January, G/4 left Kandahar with General Stewart’s force and marched on and took the fort at Kalat-i-Ghilzai, entering on the 22nd of January. Whilst the main body subsequently returned to Kandahar, G/4 were left as part of the fort’s garrison for a month before also returning to Kandahar, arriving on the 2nd of March.

Over the next 6 months the British suffered outbreaks of disease, including Cholera, and G/4 lost both its Battery Sergeant-Major and its Quartermaster-Sergeant as well as a number of other ranks. With the signing of the Treaty of Gandamak and the war seemingly over, on the 2nd of September 1879, G/4 began its march back to India but was recalled to Kandahar on receipt of the news about the uprising in Kabul and the murder of the British representatives.

Upon its return to Kandahar, two guns were immediately moved forward and stationed at Kalat-i-Ghilzai. In the new year, as part of the Ghazni Field Force, G/4 departed Kandahar on the 31st of March 1880, advancing north towards the Afghan capital Kabul and being re-joined by the two guns at Kalat-i-Ghilzai. On the 19th of April 1880, G/4 were engaged in the Battle of Ahmed Khel where they preformed commendably, helping prevent what could have been a disastrous defeat.

As the British forces moved into the Logar Valley, the battery remained there and in the surrounding districts for the next three months. On the 2nd of August 1880, G/4 arrived in Kabul. Shortly thereafter it began its long arduous march back to India under the command of General Stewart, arriving in Peshawar on the 2nd of September where it remained for the next seven months before proceeding to Mirat.

Samuel was promoted, reaching the rank of Bombardier. He was discharged on the 30th of July 1887 having completed 12 years, 11 months, and 30 days service.

[Gunner1984]

William Ewens
Gunner, 6481
Royal Artillery

William Ewens was born in Westhampnett near Chichester, Sussex in July 1856 to Amos Ewens, a flour miller and his second wife Kitty/Kate (née Etherton). William was the second of three children (Edmund b.1853; Catherine Matilda b.1858), and his father died shortly after the birth of William’s younger sister, aged just 30. Amos also had two children with his previous wife Elizabeth (née Burden) – George (b.1847) and Mary Ann (b.1848). Elizabeth died in 1849. After Amos’ death, Kitty became the head of household and is recorded as being a schoolmistress and a dress maker in the 1861 and 1871 Censuses respectively.

William is recorded as being an agricultural labourer in the 1871 Census. On the 9th of January 1873, aged 16 and 6 months, William attested into the British Army, joining the Royal Artillery (RA), signing up for 12 years’ service. His service record does not survive but William was posted to India and eventually transferred to E Battery, 3rd Brigade RA (E/3) with whom he saw service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Throughout the war, E/3 formed part of the 1st Division, Peshawar Valley Field Force under the command of General Sir Samuel Browne. Brigaded with the 2nd Infantry Brigade, the battery advanced with the Division from Jamrud on the 21st of November 1878, and took part in the battle of Ali Musjid, directly attacking the fort and the enemy defensive works. Following the British victory, on the advance of the division on the 23rd of November, E/3 were left behind with the 4th Infantry Brigade in charge of the camp at Ali Musjid. It subsequently moved up through the Khyber Pass, and during the remainder of the first campaign did duty at various posts extending to Gandamak and including Daka and Jalalabad.

On the recall of the troops after the conclusion of peace, it was one of the first batteries to commence the toilsome return march to India, eventually making its way to Campbellpur after suffering severely from the excessive heat of the season and the pestilential climate of the country traversed. On the renewal of hostilities in the Autumn of 1879, E/3 was ordered up from Campbellpur to Kohat, and throughout the ensuing campaign served in divisions at that station, at Thal, and at various outposts, as a unit of the Kuram Division. Shortly after the final withdrawal of the troops to India, the battery was ordered home and proceeded to Woolwich.

William was subsequently transferred to B/4 and was posted to Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was discharged from the Army on the 8th of January 1885 having completed his 12 years’ service and found work as a labourer in the local coal industry. In 1886 William joined the British Army’s Volunteer Force, serving with A Company, 9th Lanarkshire Rifles Volunteer Corps (9 Lanark VRC) as 3234 Private William Ewens. He served at least 20 years with 9 Lanark VRC and was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal in August 1906.

On the 3rd of January 1883, William married Agnes McLatchey at the Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow before moving to Lesmahagow once William had left been discharged. Together they had four children: Matilda (b.1883); James (b.25 October 1885); Jean (b.1889); and Edward (b.16 Feb 1891) who followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Royal Field Artillery. William died on the 27th of September 1918 aged 62.