Role of the 2/8th Foot, 2nd Afghan War

[Mark]

Maybe one for Garen and Maiwander

Can anyone tell me what the 2/8th Regiment of Foot was up to during the Second Afghan War?

I have a no-clasp Afghan Medal to a Lance-Corporal to the Regiment and would like to work out where my man was.

Mark

[kaiser]

i too have a medal to the 2/8th but mine has the bar Pwiwar Kotal, did they do anyting on note during the war

[Garen]

I'll just join in and say that I too have a medal to a man in the 8th Foot (King's Liverpool Regiment), with clasp for Peiwar Kotal.

The 8th Foot were part of Roberts' Kuram Valley column (apart from two Companies who stayed at Thal and Kohat as part of the garrisons there - Mark, maybe your Lance Corporal was with those). They were involved in the battle of Peiwar Kotal - as part of the smaller frontal attack, rather than Roberts' main turning movement via the Spingawi Kotal, but it was still severe fighting. The regiment spent the rest of the first campaign at and around the base camp at Peiwar, with the occasional tribal pressure to deal with.

It wasn't until the commencement of the second campaign, renewed by the murder of Cagavnari at Kabul, that the Thal Companies rejoined the rest of the regiment, still at Peiwar. They did not advance to Kabul with Roberts, but stayed in the Kuram, doing regular day-to-day field work, at one point in October 1879 having to help repel an attack of Mangals and Jagis at Ali Khel. Forty men took part in the Zaimusht expedition in December, and the attack on Zawo, and there were other expeditions in 1880 to Bannu and Karmanna. They returned to India in Oct 1880.

[maiwander]

Well chaps - I seem to be without a gong (except for my own)!
I think Garen has given all the information that is really available and I have much the same. Will try to have a look around when time allows as I am busy polishing up the chapters for the book at present.

Maiwander

[Mark]

Garen - cheers for the info, much appreciated.

Maiwander - when is the book due out? I would love to buy a copy.

Mark

[maiwander]

Mark
Maybe this is not the right place to pass information on about the book. I can tell you that it will be out in November this year published by Tempus. I will post further details on where you can order copies etc., later in the year when these have been finalised.

Maiwander

[Mark]

Maiwander

Thanks for the info. While we are a non-commercial forum I can't see why an author couldn't post a review of his/her own publications in say the Reference Books & Other Materials section if it is of interest to members

Mark

[Jonathan]

I, too, will be buying this book. Will it be available from major outlets such as amazon?

Jonathan

[maiwander]

Johnathan

I am not sure to be honest, but I would not be surprised if it is not, most books are.

Maiwander

[Garen]

If it has an ISBN (which it will) it will available from Amazon. Also probably direct from the 'Wardrobe' museum (which may mean the museum gets more of the money).

[Mark]

I am really looking forward to this book chaps, keep us posted as to publication dates.

Mark

[mazz69]

Hello
,i am in the process of researching my G, G, grandfather He served with the 8th foot from 1878 to 1880,i have his medal with clasp ( Peiwar Kotal),can anyone help with any info or suggest where to look?,also any good ref books to suggest.Any info greatly appreciated
regards
David
Also with his medals is a piece of paper saying he was on the march to Khandahar,& my grandad had a picture of him with his medals on, is this possible as i didn't think the 8th where on the march?

[Garen]

Hello David -

I'm sure some more information can be put your way. Can you supply his name and service number, please? Would be great to see the photo to see if he wears a Kandahar Star. (Oh wait - you said your granddad had a photo, is it no longer around?)

Many thanks - Garen.

[mazz69]

Hi Garen
sorry i ment to post his details Private William Marriott, service no 1207, I have my father searching for it ,hopefully if found i will post it
Regards
David

[Garen]

Thanks for that, David. Yes, I see him on the medal roll with clasp for Peiwar Kotal, but no Kandahar Star. The medal roll only lists one 8th Foot man who went on the march (Private Savage) but I know that's not true as Lt. Charles Robertson went as well - and I know that because he wrote a book about his experience in the Afghan War - Kurum, Kabul & Kandahar - being a brief record of impressions in three campaigns under General Roberts. But generally, 8th Foot men were not on Roberts' march.