Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Captain, D. T. Kinder, 2/11th. Regt.) with contemporary top silver riband bar, edge nicks, good very fine £180-£220

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Christie’s, November 1990.

Dennett Thomas Kinder, was born in East Leicester in 1846. He entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst as a Cadet in 1864 and was commissioned Ensign, without purchase, in the 11th Regiment of Foot on 9 May 1865. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, then garrisoned at Hong Kong, in July 1865, the battalion was ‘rendered virtually useless due to sickness (cholera) and evacuated to South Africa’, disembarking at Port Elizabeth ‘in a scandalous condition’ in July 1866. On recovery the battalion remained in the Cape until returning to Ireland in July 1870. Appointed as Adjutant of the battalion he took part in the notorious Autumn Manoeuvres on Dartmoor in July 1873 before embarking for India in February 1877. Forming part of the 2nd Division, Kandahar Field Force, the battalion marched 120 miles in 6 stages through the Bolan Pass arriving at Quetta on 2 August 1880 and Fort Gulistan on 16 August 1880; during this advance 13 men died from heat stroke, and they finally arrived at Kandahar on 19 September 1880.

Kinder embarked for home furlough 26 November 1880. Various home appointments followed during which time he was promoted Major and then Lieutenant-Colonel. He assumed command of the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment in Burma on 2 April 1892 and retained command of his battalion until placed on half-pay on 18 January 1897. Promoted Colonel to command the 11th Regimental District on 7 October 1898 he was finally placed on retired pay in October 1903. Including his time as a Cadet he had served for 39 years and 9 months. He died at Goring, Oxfordshire on 24 January 1941, aged 94. This is his sole medallic entitlement.

Sold with copied service record and other research, including various photographic images.