Candahar 1842 (Private Oliver Raper, H.M. 40th Regiment) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, edge bruise and minor marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare £500-600

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

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Oliver Raper was born in the Parish of St Thomas’, Dublin, in 1807, a blacksmith prior to his enlistment into the 40th Regiment on 4 November 1827. He joined the regiment in Australia, arriving at Hobart on 24 December 1828, but the following year the regiment left for India, arriving at Bombay on 5 December 1829. He was subsequently stationed variously at Belgaum, Poona, Bombay and Deesa. He participated in the campaign in Afghanistan and was severely wounded in the right arm in an action on the Arghandab river on 12 January 1842. Being left in hospital at Candahar, he was one of the few invalids of the 40th who defended Candahar during the attack on the 9th March. He returned to Karachi with Brigadier England’s column and was invalided to England in June 1843, being discharged on pension on 1 December 1843. Only 130 medals for Candahar were issued to European recipients, including 64 to the 40th Regiment.