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Candahar Ghuznee Cabul 40th Foot

Candahar Ghuznee Cabul, 1842, Orderly Room Clerk Dougald George Campbell, 40th Foot, unique to this rank, a senior NCO position. Served 21 years died at sea on the way home in 1845.

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SKU: J9214 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
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Candahar Ghuznee Cabul, 1842, Orderly Room Clerk Douglas George Campbell, 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot, aka the “Fighting Fortieth”, unique to this rank, a senior NCO position. Served 21 years died at sea on the way home in 1845. 

 

Officially engraved in running script, as typically seen to the 40th Regt: “Ordy Rm Clerk Dougd G. Campbell 40th Regt”.

 

Original rusted steel clip and bar suspension.

 

The medal is unique to this rank, only one man in the regiment could hold the position of Orderly Room Clerk at one time, we have yet to see another medal of this type surface to this rank in another unit.

 

With digital file of muster entries, following his Army Career from 1824 until 1845.

 

Orderly Room Clerk Dougald George Campbell, was a long serving NCO in the Army, he first began his Army Career in Ireland back in 1824, when he joined the brand new regiment the 97th Earl of Ulsters Regiment of Foot in late 1824.

He was quickly posted overseas to serve with the Regiment in Colombo, Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka.

 

Dougald showed great promised as a soldier, taking little time to rise to Corporal and then Sergeant within a year.

 

In 1828 he transferred over to the 40th Foot, with whom he would serve until his death. The muster roll notes during this time: “Transfer received from the 97th Regiment on the 25th October 1828 by Authority dated 14th Oct 1828”

 

He was promoted to the post of Orderly Room Clerk on 26th June 1839, and held the appointment for over 6 years until his death. Unusually he had been a Private at the time, being promoted straight to this rank.

 

Dougald was also on service during the following Gwalior Campaign and probably received the Maharajpoor Star being present with the regiment when they fought at the Battle of Maharajpore on 29th December 1843.

 

During 1845, he was in his 21st Year in the Army, and was due to return home likely to a long service pension.

 

He died at sea during the journey home on 4th December 1845.

 

At this time, Dougald was one of the stalwart original men who had served since 1828 with the 40th Foot in India all the way until their return home, they were finally returning back home to England beginning the ship journey in September 1845.