Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Capt: W. W. Haywood. 2nd. Bn. 14th. Regt.) toned, extremely fine £400-500

Walter Wightwick Haywood was born in Moxley, Worcestershire, on 1 June 1843, the son of James Haywood Esq., and the grandson on his mother’s side of the infamous Barbados buccaneer and pirate Samuel Hall Lord. He attested for service as a Cadet in the Bombay Infantry at the age of 16. Awarded his Ensigncy on 12 January 1860, he was promoted Lieutenant on 28 March 1862, and Captain on 31 October 1869. On his promotion to Captain he transferred to the Bombay Staff and on 13 May 1874 exchanged to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Foot.

While the 14th Foot did not enter the Afghan campaign until January 1880, Captain Haywood was involved from the beginning as pat of the Quetta Field Force in 1878, acting as Brigade Major until 14 April 1879. He took part in the advance on Kandahar in January 1879 and the opening up of the Thal-Chotiali route to India when it had been opposed by a large body of tribesmen under the command of Shah Jahan. For this service he was thanked in Field Orders. Following this, he joined the 14th Foot in time to proceed with the Regiment to Peshwar.

Moving into Afghan territory, the Regiment formed part of a moveable column under Brigadier-General W. A. Gibb. On 20 May 1880 the column resumed its movement westwards on information that Mullah Fakir had collected forces, estimated to be between four to six thousand tribesmen, in a position near the villages of Hissarak and Mazina. At 7:30 a.m. the enemy were discovered in a strong position in the Mazina valley. The tribesmen appeared to be occupying the right bank of the river by an old fort and a small elevated plateau which commanded the ground in the area. It was this plateau that would be the objective of the days’ fighting. The column formed to attack the enemy lines at 9:30 a.m. Four of the Royal Horse Artillery’s guns under escort of Captain Harrington’s company of the 14th Foot began to shell the old fort ruins which were then assaulted by companies of the 14th under command of Captains Haywood, Noyes, and Morris. On the attack getting underway the main body of the enemy began to withdraw to the plateau to continue their defence with considerable tenacity. Gradually the steady advance of the 14th which included a bayonet charge on the enemy’s position rolled up the Afghan line and forced the enemy to be driven back en masse, with Captains Haywood and Gordon’s companies crowning the plateau position. It is estimated that the enemy lost at least 120 killed and upwards of 200 wounded; three standards were taken along with a number of prisoners.

Haywood continued to serve in the 14th Foot until 29 October 1881 when he retired with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He died in February 1924, aged 80.

Sold with copied research.