Three: Sepoy Mir Ghazan, 40th Pathans

1914-15 Star (No. 4793 Sepoy, 40/Pathans.); British War and Victory Medals (4793 Sepoy, 40 Pathans) minor edge bruising, fine (3)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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In August 1914 the 40th Pathans were stationed in Hong Kong. The regiment then sailed for Southern France and landed there on 1 April 1915. They joined the 8th Jullundur Brigade, 3rd Lahore Division on 12 April 1915 and fought in the battles of 2nd Ypres, Aubers and Festubert, April/May 1915 - the regiment suffering losses of nearly 40%. In December 1915 the 40th Pathans sailed for British East Africa, arriving in Mombassa on 9 January 1916, and utilised local defence and lines of communication troops. In March/April the regiment joined the 1st and thence the 2nd East African Brigade and in May/June, the ‘Centre’ or ‘No.2 Column’. The regiment saw action at the skirmish at Mombo, 7 June 1916, the occupation of Kisaza, 21 July 1916, and the occupation of Manga, 3 August 1916. By this time the regiment had suffered a casualty rate of nearly 60%, with only 470 men out of the 1088 who landed in January, considered fit for service by the end of July. Despite this, the campaign for the 40th Pathans continued; arriving at Bagamoyo on 25 August 1916 and then on to the Morogoro Road on to Kola and Kiserawe. They were responsible for capturing 25 Germans and 20 Askaris between 31 August and 2 September 1916. The regiment arrived at Dar-es-Salaam on 6 September. They embarked on 11 September and sailed to occupy Mikindani, arriving on 13 September and occupied Lindi on 17 September. They then took part in the battles of Njinjo, 9 October, and Kimbarambara, 11 October 1916. In November they joined the 1st East African Division as part of the 3rd East African Brigade, the division fighting a number of battles between December 1916-April 1917. In May the division was renamed the ‘Kilwa Force’ and the 40th Pathans were assigned to ‘No.3 Column’. At the battle of Narungombe, 19 July 1917, the regiment took heavy losses and lost four maxims to the Germans. After a well deserved ‘refit’, the regiment departed East Africa for India in February 1918.