Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers

A fine Punjab Frontier Force C.B. group of three awarded to Colonel A. H. Turner, 2nd Punjab Infantry, a noted ‘frontier fighter’ often mentioned in despatches

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, lacking riband buckle; India General Service 1854-95, 3 clasps, North West Frontier, Samana 1891, Waziristan 1894-5 (Lieut. A. H. Turner 2nd Pun. Inftry.) impressed naming a little weak; Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Peiwar Kotal (Capt. A. H. Turner. 2 Pun. Iy.) green enamel wreaths badly chipped on the first, otherwise nearly very fine (3) £1,200-£1,500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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Augustus Henry Turner was born on 12 October 1842, son of George Turner, of Beacon Downs, Devon, and educated at Marlborough College. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 79th Highlanders on 24 May 1861, and landed in India to join his regiment on 20 February 1862. He was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1865 and transferred to the Indian Staff Corps on 7 May 1868. Appointed 2nd Wing Subaltern in the 2nd Punjab Infantry on 11 June 1868, he served in the Hazara Expedition of that year (India Medal with clasp for North West Frontier). He afterwards served in the expedition against the Bezoti Afridis in 1869, for which no medal was awarded. He served in the Afghan campaign of 1878-80, at the assault and capture of the Peiwar Kotal, 2 December 1878. He afterwards served with the Transport Department, Kurrum Valley Force, from April to July 1879, and during the advance on Kabul in October 1879 as Political Officer to Ghilzai tribes on the route from Ali Khel to Kushi; was present at the actions in the Shutargardan Pass and subsequently marched with the Shutargardan force to Kabul; he proceeded to India in December 1879, in political charge of the ex-Amir Yakub Khan, and returning to Kabul, served there as Political Officer till the final evacuation, accompanying, in the meantime, the force under Brigadier-General Macpherson into the Logar Valley on 25 April 1879, and being present at the second action of Charasiab (Despatches London Gazette 16 January and 30 July, 1880; Medal with clasp for Peiwar Kotal).

Turner next took part in the Zhob Valley Expedition of 1890, under Sir George White, and was mentioned in despatches. As Lieutenant-Colonel he commanded the 2nd Punjab Infantry in the 1st Miranzai Expedition of 1891. In the 2nd Miranzai Expedition of 1891, he commanded the 2nd Column (Despatches London Gazette 15 September 1891: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Turner, 2nd Punjab Infantry, who commanded the Second Column, I have already had the honour to bring to favourable notice for his services in January and February last. He is an officer of great resource and dash, and I am glad the Government of India has shown its confidence in him by nominating him to command the Samana Posts until the final reduction of the garrison.’; Brevet fine Colonel; Clasp for Samana 1891).

In Waziristan 1894-95, Turner commanded the Waziristan Delimitation Escort when it was attacked at Wano Camp on 3 November 1894, by the Mahsud Waziris numbering some 3,000. This attack was repulsed, but not without the loss on our side of 120 killed and wounded. Turner was appointed to the Command of the 1st or Wana Brigade, Waziristan Field Force, in the subsequent operations (Despatches London Gazette 2 July 1895: ‘The 1st Brigade was commanded by Brigadier-General A. H. Turner, Staff Corps, whom I have already brought to notice for good work performed in two previous frontier expeditions. I trust that his valuable services in Waziristan may receive recognition.’ Thanked by the Government of India; clasp for Waziristan 1894-5).

Turner was appointed a Companion of the Bath in the Diamond Jubilee honours list (London Gazette 25 June 1897) and retired on 12 October 1899. Colonel Turner died in 1925 at ‘Sunnyside’, Dulverton, Somerset,