Description
Kabul to Kandahar Star 1878-80, 58B/530 Private Matthew Winley, 72nd Highlanders
Officially embossed on reverse: “58B/530 PRIVATE M. WINLEY 72nd HIGHLANDERS”
Matthew is on the medal roll for the matching Afghanistan 1878-80 Medal, with 4 bars, the maximum entitlement, comprising of Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar.
The remarks note he “Will proceed to England this Trooping Season for transfer to the 1st Class Army Reserve.”
Matthew Winley was a Scotsman, born during 1855 in Leith, Edinburgh, shown living with his father in Leigh during the 1871 Census, he was a 16 year old Plumber and Gas Fitter.
Son of Confectioner Matthew Winley (Born 1820).
Following his Army Service he returned back home to Edinburgh, shown there on the 1891 Census as a Iron Grinder and Widower, living in Brown Street, Barony, Glasgow.
In between these he would have been overseas with the Army as he is missing on the 1881 Census having likely served 12 years between 1873 (when 18 years old) – 1885.
According to the medal roll, Private Winley took part in all the major events the 72nd Highlanders were involved in:
Battle of Peiwar Kotal, 2nd December 1878
Battle of Charaisa (Charasiab), 6th October 1879
Capture of Kabul, 10-23rd December 1879.
Lord Roberts March from Kabul to Kandahar, August 1880
Battle of Kandahar, 1st September 1880, the Battle that ended the war.
