Description
Afghanistan 1878-80, no bar, B/688 Pte S. Ashton, 66th Regt, killed in action at Maiwand on 27th July 1880.
Medal is entirely untouched and toned with the original long silk ribbon as issued and in the titled card box of issue.
The battle of Maiwand was a massacre, the British and Indian force that was present lost 21 Officers and 948 Soldiers killed in action, with 8 Officers and 169 wounded.
The 66th Regiment lost 62% of their number, 12 of which were officers, in total 286 men dead and 32 wounded.
Throughout the battle the force fought gallantly against an endless stream of Ayub Khan’s soldiers, taking with them 3,000 enemy casualties, the massive force comprised of nearly 12,000 men, 3,000 of which were cavalry, Whereas General Burrows only had 1500 Infantrymen and 350 Cavalry, they never stood a chance.
They still fought bravely down to the last men, the final eleven making an epic stand which is described by Lieutenant General Primrose in his official despatch as;
'I have it on authority of a Colonel of artillery who was present at the time, that a party of the 66th Regiment which he estimated at 100 men and officers made a most determined stand in the garden. They were surrounded by the whole Afghan army and fought on until only eleven men were left inflicting enormous losses on the enemy.
These eleven men charged out of the garden and died with their faces to the foe fighting to the death; such was the nature of their charge and the grandeur of their bearing that although the whole of the Ghazis were assembled around them, not one dared approach them, to cut them down, thus standing in the open back to back, firing steadily and truly, every shot telling, surrounded by thousands, these eleven officers and men died, and it was not until the last man had been cut down that the Ghazis dared advance upon them.
Lieutenant-Colonel Galbraith was last seen on the nullah bank kneeling on one knee, with a colour in his hand, officers and men rallying around him, and on this spot his body was found. Close by Second Lieutenant Barr was shot dead over one of the colours. Captains Garrett and Cullen were both killed on the field, in front of the nullah, up to the last moment commanding their companies and giving their orders with as much coolness as if on an ordinary regimental parade.
Captain Roberts was mortally wounded in the garden where the last stand was made. Second Lieutenants Honeywood and Olivey were seen holding up the colours, the pole of one of which was broken to pieces, as rallying points. Lieutenant Honeywood was shot down whilst holding a colour high above his head, shouting out "men what shall we do to save this?" Sergeant Major Cubbage was shot dead outside of the garden whilst trying to escape with one of the colours, and many NCOs and men laid down their lives in the attempt to save the colours of their regiment that day'.
