The Regimentally Unique Second Afghan War Officer’s Medal awarded to Captain Herbert Hale Forbes Gifford, 13th Hussars, comprising: Afghanistan, 1878-80, no clasp (Capt. H. H. F. Gifford. 13th Huss:), somewhat polished, about very fine and unique to an officer in this regiment Major-General Herbert Hale Forbes Gifford was born on 27 November 1836 at Willingham, Hampshire, the son of the Reverend John George Gifford and Georgina Gifford (née Thompson). As stated in the ‘History of the XIII. Hussars’ by Barrett, he began his military career as a Lieutenant with the 3rd Middlesex Militia on 24 December 1854, afterwards taking a commission as Cornet with the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 23 October 1857, seeing early service in the Mediterranean. Transferring to the 1st Dragoon Guards on 16 July 1858 and promoted to Lieutenant on 12 March 1861, he took up a captaincy with the 4th Hussars on 23 October 1869 before transferring to the 13th Hussars on 26 July 1873 (seeing service in the East Indies between 1867-78), with whom he would remain for much of his remaining career.Promoted to Major on 23 October 1877, he served in the Second Afghan War as Brigade Major to the Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Division, Field Force, from 30 October 1878, and then with the 2nd Column, Thull Field Force in 1879. During this period he was present during the advance to Kandahar and Kelat-i-Ghilzie under Sir Donald Stewart, for which he received a mention in despatches and the brevet of Major. Latterly he served as officiating Brigade Major at Lucknow, and then as D.A.A.G., Peshawar in late 1879-80. For his service in Afghanistan he received the above medal - the sole officer recipient of the 13th Hussars to receive one, along with just three N.C.O.s, all receiving ‘no clasp’ medals.He was placed on half-pay on 26 July 1880 and appointed Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 July 1881, receiving the brevet of Colonel on 1 July 1885. He retired with the honorary rank of Major-General on 1 July 1887, and died on 28 May 1907 at Wandsworth, London.Ex D.N.W., 3 December 2020, lot 505

Estimate: GBP 600 - 800