A rare Kelat-i-Ghilzie pair awarded to Gunner William Atkinson, 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, Bengal Foot Artillery

Ghuznee Cabul 1842 (Gunner William Atkinson, 4th Compy. 2nd Battn. Bengal Foot Arty.) fitted with original steel clip and straight bar suspension; Defence of Kelat-i-Ghilzie 1842 (Gunner William Atkinson, 4th Compy. 2nd Battn. Arty.) fitted with steel clip and straight bar suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise about very fine and very rare (2) £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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Approximately 55 medals awarded to European recipients for the defence of the small fortress town at Kelat-i-Ghilzie, halfway between Cabul and Ghuznee. The small garrison under Captain J. H. Craigie gallantly held out, despite the snow and bitter cold of winter, until relieved by Major-General Nott on 26 May 1842.

William Atkinson was born in Liverpool and enlisted there for the Bengal Artillery on 13 April 1833, aged 20 years. He sailed from Liverpool in the Duke of Argyll on 5 August 1833, and arrived in Bengal on 15 December 1833. The relevant musters show him as being present with the 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, of the Bengal Foot Artillery, throughout the period of his Ghuznee Cabul and Kelat-i-Ghilzie awards. He was discharged in 1856 due to debility and being worn out, and sailed for Europe on 16 June 1856, aboard the Prince of Wales. Sold with copies of various muster rolls.