Gunner S MOORE, 5812 5/8 BDE RA, 2nd Afghan War

[Trish]

Hi,
Firstly a quick introduction. My name is Trish, I live in Leicester and this is my first foray into the world of historical medals and battles. A collector friend of mine, has given me a number of medal to research and I must admit that to date, I have been having a whale of a time!

One of the medals I am researching is an Afghanistan 1878-79-80 medal to:-
5812 Gunner S Moore - 5/8th BDE, Royal Artillery.

The note that came with it states that he died at Quetta on 28 November 1880

I have been on the National Archives, and found the reference WO 100/54, and have asked for a quotation for a copy of the record, but I must admit that I am loathe to wait 10 days the specify for a quotation and then have to wait again. I know this is not good for research but this is me - sorry!

My question is can anyone help with the verification that he was entitled to this medal and also, if anyone can shed any light on how he died.

If I am incorrect in posting this here, then I apologise and await censure , seriously, just point me in the right direction...

Many thanks

Trish

[Mark]

Hi Trish

Warm welcome to the forum. Hopefully someone here may have a copy of the medal roll and be able to confirm entitlement. Of all the rolls I have the Afghanistan Medal is not one of them I am afraid. However, there are numerous Second Anglo-Afghan War enthusiasts here - noteably our Moderator Garen and Academic Advisor maiwander.

One piece of advice I would give is employ a researcher to look in the National Archives for you and see if a copy of Gunner Moore's service records have survived. We are in the process of setting up some suggested links to researchers for a sticky thread on the forum. Sadly, due to other projects on the go, it isn't read yet. Maybe some forum members maybe able to help?

In the meantime I can whole heartedly recommend the following web site of interest: http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/

Kind Regards

Mark

[Trish]

Hi Mark,

Many thanks for the welcome and I hope you are right about someone on here being able to help.
Thanks also for the information about the website, I actually came to you via that site. I found it really informative but unfortunately it didn't have the information I need, at least to start off with.

As regards the employment of a researcher, I will bear that in mind, but I think half the fun of this is finding everything out yourself. Maybe I feel that way because I am still new to this and the shine will soon wear off, I hope not. Each time I find something out I ring my friend up and tell him (I am sure he will regret ever giving me this to do)!

As I hopefully await any information regarding my search, I am eagerly reading some of the many posts this amazing forum has to offer.

Regards

Trish

[Garen]

Hello Trish

Just a quick line to confirm that 5812 Gunner S. Moore is indeed on the Afghan War medal roll for 5/8 RA. The only other info is the note you have, of which I guess the medal roll is the source. I've just got in and am about to make dinner - so will come back with some info on 5/8 RA, I hope.

All best - Garen

PS - glad you came here via my site, sorry it wasn't any help! I'm its extension over here on the forum

[Garen]

Found my notes on 5/8. They were one of those batteries that saw service at the very end of the Afghan War. They were a mountain battery and were called up from Poona to be part of Phayre's Kandahar relief column, to do service along the line from Quetta to Chaman. They were quite often broken up into two-gun or four-gun detachments and garrisoned communication line posts such as Killa Abdulla and Gulistan from the end of August 1880 to April 1881, when the British evacuated Kandahar, and then staying until October 1881 when they left Quetta to return to the Bombay Presidency. They were commanded by Major William Lluelyn.

Hope that's of interest. Best - Garen.

[Mark]

Garen

Out of interest were the 5/8 RA entitled to any clasps on their Afghanistan Medals?

Mark

[Garen]

Hi Mark - no clasps, as the battery didn't even make it to Kandahar, and only made up it into the Pishin Valley after September 1880 when the final battle had been fought.

But your question did lead to a point of interest - Major Lluelyn, who I mentioned earlier as being in charge, is not on the roll for 5/8 RA (I'll have to find out where he's listed), but instead the Major is J A S Colquhoun. I didn't realise he was with 5/8 - he wrote a very useful book about Roberts' initial surge into the Kurram Valley (where he was in charge of the Ordnance Field Park), and does seem to be the only man of the battery listed with a clasp (for Peiwar Kotal).

All best - Garen

[Trish]

Hi there,

Garen, please don't apologise for your site, it's very informative and easy to navigate (I play around with websites myself).
Thank you so much for the information ref the medal roll and the 5/8, I will continue my search and if i manage to find anything of interest about Gunner Moore, will send it to you for inclusion on your site if you wish.

Regards

Trish

[Trish]

Apologies Mark, I will of course send any information to the Victorian Forum too

Trish

[Garen]

Thank you, Trish - it will be great to know if you find out any more. If you do, this thread would be a good place to update us.

Best of luck - Garen.

[Garen]

I see the medal is up for sale - was there nothing from the National Archives?

Best - Garen