Description
Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 bars, Charasia, Kabul, B17 Private William Grant, 92nd Highlanders, The Gordon Highlanders.
Confirmed on the medal roll.
Officially engraved: “B/17 Pte W. Grant. 92nd Highrs”
Served with the unusually low service number of 17.
William Grant was born during 1852, enlisting for service with the Army on 7th August 1873.
Soon afterwards he was shipped off to India embarking on January 1874, aged 22 and 5 months.
During the Afghanistan War of 1878-80, he took part with his regiment in the Battles of Charasia and Kabul.
The battle of Charasia or “Charasiab” was fought on 6th October 1879, with 3,800 British Army soldiers against 12,000 of the Afghan Army alongside tribesmen.
The 92nd Highlanders saw a distinguished part in the battle, having captured 3 hills thereby successfully turning the enemies’ flank.
That day also Sir George Stuart White VC, who was a 44 year old Officer in the 92nd Highlanders won his Victoria Cross for the attacks on the enemy positions.
The award of the Kabul clasp to the regiment was for service in and around Kabul including the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment, during which they won another Victoria Cross.
On 13th December 1879 during the Siege of Sherpur Cantonment Lieut William Dick-Cunyngham won a Victoria Cross: “For the conspicuous gallantry and coolness displayed by him on the 13th December, 1879, at the attack on the Sherpur Pass, in Afghanistan, in having exposed himself to the full fire of the enemy, and by his example and encouragement rallied the men who, having been beaten back, were, at the moment, wavering at the top of the hill.”
