Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The ‘Jowaki 1877-8’ and ‘Peiwar Kotal’ campaign medals to Captain J. A. Kelso, Royal Artillery, who was killed in action at the Peiwar Kotal on 2 December 1878, shot through the head; General Roberts lamented, ‘Few men could have done what he did with his battery in so short a time, and I considered myself extremely fortunate in having him with my column’

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Jowaki 1877-8 (Captn. J. A. Kelso. R. Arty.) in its named card box of issue; Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Peiwar Kotal (Captain. J. A. Kelso. R.A.) in its named card box of issue, both medals lightly polished on the obverse, otherwise good very fine (2) £2,400-£2,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery.

View
Collection

‘John Andrew Kelso, who was killed at the Peiwar Kotal on the 2nd December, 1878, was the only son of the late John Kelso, Esq., of the Indian Civil Service, a gentleman who for many years had charge of the Government Revenue. Survey in the Province of Assam. The subject of this memoir was born on the 2nd February, 1839. After passing the earlier portion of his life with his parents in India, he proceeded to England, and studied for several years at King's College, London, from whence he entered Woolwich. Passing out from the Academy after the usual course, he was gazetted, in November, 1860, to the Royal Artillery, and, joining his battery in India shortly afterwards, did duty with it at various stations in the Bengal and Madras Presidencies for a period of seven years. In March, 1868, Kelso was posted Subaltern to No. 2 Light Field Horse Battery, Haidarabad. Contingent, and continued to serve with it until April, 1873, when he received his promotion and reverted to the regular service. After a twelve-months' interval, he was appointed Commandant of No. 2 Light Field Horse Battery, Punjab Frontier Force, which in January, 1877, was converted into No. I Mountain Battery, mules being substituted for horses. With this he served throughout the Jowaki campaign of 1877-78, obtaining the medal with clasp, and receiving honourable mention in Brigadier-General Keyes' despatches for the zeal and activity he displayed during the operations. Shortly after the conclusion of hostilities a severe attack of fever necessitated his proceeding on sick leave to the hill station of Murree.

‘In October, 1878, the battery was ordered up to Jamrud in view of the impending outbreak of war with Afghanistan, being detailed to Sir Sam. Browne's Division of the Army of Invasion, and Captain Kelso at once rejoined and resumed command of it. General Roberts, however, applying for its services, it was sent, a month later, to join the Kuram Force at Kohat, and proceeding from thence to Thal, took part in the subsequent advance of the division into the enemy’s country. It was during the assault of the Peiwar Kotal on the 2nd December, in the hour of victory, that Captain Kelso met a soldier's death, being shot through the head at the moment when - to quote the words of an eye-witness - he had "moved up the steep slope with incredible rapidity, and, wheeling to the right, formed up on the left of the Highlanders, and opened fire.” Captain Kelso was an officer of high repute in the service, and the sorrow caused by his death was both deep and wide-spread. After referring in his despatch to the assistance rendered by the battery in the advance, and to the determined manner in which the guns were fought, General Roberts, coupling the name of the deceased with that of the late Major Anderson of the 23rd Punjab Pioneers, wrote as follows: "The death of these officers is mourned by the whole force, for both were well known as brave and excellent soldiers;" and in a private letter, after expressing his great admiration for Captain Kelso's very soldierly qualities, the General added: "Few men could have done what he did with his battery in so short a time, and I considered myself extremely fortunate in having him with my column." Captain Kelso married, in January, 1867, at Trichinopoly, Marion, third daughter of the late W. H. Ranking, M.D., F.R.C.P.L., of Norwich. He leaves a widow, with one son and three daughters.’ (Ref The Afghan Campaign of 1878-1880, by S. H. Shadbolt.)