66th Casualty Mystery 2nd Afghanistan War 1880

[Johno]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I hope someone can help with a bit of a mystery regarding a soldier who served with the 66th in the 2nd Afghan War. Pte. 1521 Alfred Berger was entitled to the Afghanistan Medal with Kandahar clasp, and the Kabul to Kandahar Star. He was engaged in the Field Reserve 1st Brigade Daubeney 1st September 1880. He died at Quetta on 6th October 1880.

At some stage in the future I will visit Kew and get as much info as I can, but I'm a little confused with the info I have so far uncovered. There's not a lot of info regarding the march from Kandahar to Quetta, other than what I found in Richard J Stackpool-Rydings excellent book, Maiwand. He mentions that the 66th Reached Quetta on the 13th October, a full week before Pte. Berger died. Could it be that Berger was sent to Quetta ahead of the rest of the 66th who marched out to Quetta on the 1st October, having suffered wounds in the fighting around Kandahar? Or is it more likely he died on the march towards Quetta, having left Kandahar on the 1st Oct?

My reserach shows that five men died at (or on the march to) Quetta, and four of these men are listed in the above mentioned book; Pte. 687 T. Shaw, Pte. 1394 C. Hall, Pte. 1373 G. Burson and Corporal 1220 G. Williams. For whatever reason Pte. Berger isn't mentioned neither in this book or any other books I've read about the aftermath of Maiwand.

I would be very grateful for any info regarding Pte. Berger, where he attested, where he was born and how he died, his campaigns etc. I live in Reading and walked over to the Forbury Gardens this morning with his medal in my hand, and sure enough his name is there on the monument, along with the many names of the 66th who died at Maiwand.

Thanks, john.

[Garen]

Hello John

Although some men of the 66th were too ill to be moved when the regiment marched out on 1st Oct 1880, many of the sick and wounded at Kandahar moved out on 15th Sep with General Baker's 2nd Brigade, and this would probably have seen Alfred Berger in Quetta by the start of October, ahead of his regiment, so could be a possibility.

I notice that Berger is on the 66th roll for having the bronze star, but is not listed on the 66th's bronze star roll or in Richard's 'Men of the Regiment' appendix for having the star - I wonder which is in error?

As he is also not listed on the casualty roll it would seem he was not wounded during the battle of Kandahar, but was more likely sick and died of illness (cholera, heat apoplexy or maybe even smallpox or similar).

Best wishes -
Garen

[Johno]

Thanks Garen, this is quite helpful. I think I will have to contact the Rifles Museum as I believe they have a lot of records there regarding the 66th in Afghanistan. I've been meaning to go there for years so now I have a real purpose for visiting.
I was researching along the lines that he may have been a Maiwand survivor, as I read somewhere that almost all the survivors of Maiwand were attached to Col. Daubeney's Field Force, to which Pte. Berger was attached. However I thought it implausible that a survivor of Maiwand could succomb to disease within 2 months of that battle. As you've said, the records are wrong somewhere, I'd really like to get to the bottom of this.
Thanks, john.

[Garen]

Glad it was helpful, John - though sorry I haven't offered anything concrete.

I'm not sure why it would be implausible for a Maiwand survivor to die of illness though ... a lot of men were weakened for a while by that experience - though there were plenty of other factors that could also be responsible. If he did get the Bronze Star (meaning he marched with Roberts, joining from Khelat-i-Ghilzai), then he couldn't have been at Maiwand anyway.

The Wardrobe museum is indeed worth a visit

Best - G