PRE WW1 BRITISH ARMY AFGHANISTAN MEDAL 1878 CLASP CHARASIA PTE THOMAS 67th FOOT

Description

Offered is an original Afghanistan Medal (1878-1880), with clasp CHARASIA, period engraved 2240 P^TE J.THOMAS. 67^TH FOOT. Evidence Light lacquer streaking. Comes with copy discharge book 1886 entry.

Private J. Thomas enlisted on the 25/9/1872 and served with the 67^th Foot (South Hampshire Regiment) in the Afghan Campaign 1878. He discharged time expired on the 12/10/1886.

The regiment was posted to Burma in 1872. From there it moved to Afghanistan for service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878. It fought at the Battle of Charasiab in October 1879 and the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment in December 1879 before returning to India in 1881.

The Battle of Charasiab was fought on 6 October 1879 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War between British and Indian troops against Afghan forces. Charasiab is a town 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Kabul, British forces passing near it during their advance to Kabul. The British were led by Major-General Sir Frederick Roberts, then commander of the Kabul Field Force, and the Afghans by Nek Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kabul and uncle of Yakub Khan, the former Amir. Having driven the Afghans from the hills surrounding Charasiab, the British were able to resume their advance on Kabul. The spelling of the battle varied, with the regiments present receiving the battle honour ‘Charasiah’, while a clasp was authorised for the Afghanistan Medal inscribed ‘Charasia’.