A rare Third Afghan War M.M. group of five awarded to Acting Lance Sergeant W. Bell, 1st...

A rare Third Afghan War M.M. group of five awarded to Acting Lance Sergeant W. Bell, 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards, late 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys), for his gallantry during the action at Girdi, near the Chota Khyber Pass, on 16 May 1919, when two squadrons of the King’s Dragoon Guards made one of the last British cavalry charges; he was additionally Mentioned in Despatches, most likely for the ambush of an Afghan Force on 19 June 1919 Military Medal, G.V.R. (20903 Cpl. -A.L. Sjt.- W. Bell. 1/D. Gds:); 1914 Star, with clasp (6155 L. Cpl. W. Bell. 2/Dns.); British War and Victory Medals (2DN-6155 Sjt. W. Bell. 2-Dns.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, with copy M.I.D. oak leaves (20903 Cpl. W. Bell, 1 K.D. Guards.) edge bruising and contact marks, good fine and better (5) £3,000-£4,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 15 January 1920: ‘For bravery in the field with the British Forces in India.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 3 August 1920 (Afghanistan). William Bell attested for the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys), and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 August 1914. Subsequently transferring to the 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards, he served with them during the Thrid Afghan War, ands distinguished himself in the action at Girdi, near the Chota Khyber Pass, on 16 May 1919, when two Squadrons made one of the last British cavalry charges. On 11 May the 1st Cavalry Brigade, of which the King’s Dragoon Guards formed a part, received sudden orders to march to Jamrud Fort on the frontier. On 13 May they moved on to Landi Khana and then to Dakka, a village in Afghan territory, north west of the Khyber Pass. They arrived at 1.30 p.m. to find Dakka deserted. At 5 a.m. on 16 May ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ Squadrons moved out to reconnoitre towards Basawal. Two troops under Lieutenants Card and Jacques examined Robart Fort and Sherabad Cantonment and found them clear of the enemy. The Khurd Khyber Pass was cleared by the infantry and, with the King’s Dragoon Guards acting as advance guard, moved into the plain beyond. Two troops under Lieutenants Ward and Boogle-Smith occupied a prominent conical hill as about a hundred of the enemy retired. While the rest of the regiment closed up, these two leading troops gave chase, galloping for about 1,000 yards but unable to come to grips because of the bad going. They therefore dismounted and dispersed the enemy with rifle fire. As the Afghans took refuge in Girdi village, the two troops remained as left flank guard while 'D' Squadron under Captain Wilson secured Girdi. The 15th Sikhs then advanced to clear the hills beyond, but it at once became clear that the Afghans had assembled in large numbers and resistance was stiffening. Supported by machine guns and artillery, a strong Afghan force started to work around the British left flank. A withdrawal to camp was ordered, and immediately the Afghans came on with great boldness and rapidity. As the 15th Sikhs and King’s Dragoon Guards retired by bounds, the Afghan rifle fire, augmented by two guns, began to cause casualties. This, in the need to take back the wounded, slowed down the regiment. Many of the Sikhs were evacuated on the King’s Dragoon Guards horses, and all the wounded were got back safely. As the force retired through the Khurd Khyber Pass, with ‘B’ and ‘C’ Squadrons King’s Dragoon Guards covering the withdrawal, the Sikh company picketing the heights was pulled in. ‘D’ Squadron then held the pass, retiring through ‘B’ and ‘C’ who had leapfrogged back to cover the exit to the pass. As the squadrons debouched onto the plain by Robart Fort, they came under heavy fire from the so-called 'friendly' Mohmand village of Lalpura, and this caused a number of casualties. While two troops under Lieutenant Parker, and another under Lieutenant Barrett, took up positions at Sherabad Cantonment, to cover the guns of the RHA, the remainder of the squadrons formed up south of Robart Fort under Captain Cooper. The enemy was now advancing in heavy numbers across the open plain. Captain Cooper, forming 'B' and 'C' Squadrons into line, gave the order to charge. The two squadrons rode through the Afghans, scattering them and doing severe execution. Captain Cooper, in the lead, was badly wounded in the shoulder. To the rear, Captain Wilson quickly rallied 'D' Squadron, ready to reinforce Cooper, and then covered his withdrawal. The charge had halted the enemy and gained the time needed for the infantry to pull back into camp. It was not until the troops left in the camp at Dakka saw the King’s Dragoon Guards charge that they realised the proximity of the enemy. ‘A’ Squadron under Captain Hadfield immediately saddled up, taking up position outside the camp, until by 1 p.m. the whole force was back within the perimeter. The Afghans then occupied the high ground overlooking the camp and opened up with rifles and artillery. At 9 p.m. that night an attack was launched from the south west in an attempt to storm the camp, but it was beaten off by the troops manning the perimeter. The following day the battle recommenced, with the King’s Dragoon Guards remaining in reserve, their horses being held in a nullah to give some protection against rifles and shellfire, which caused some casualties. On the arrival of five more battalions of infantry, together with a battery of howitzers, from Landi Khana, the heights were stormed and cleared and the Afghans retreated. During the 16 and 17 May the King’s Dragoon Guards had one officer killed and one wounded; three other ranks were killed, five died of wounds and twenty-five were wounded. Twenty-two horses had been killed and twenty-eight wounded. For this action Captain Cooper was awarded the D.S.O. and Lieutenants Card and Waggett the M.C.; Sergeant Browning and Lance Corporal Sheppard were awarded the D.C.M.; and Corporal Bell was awarded the Military Medal. Bell was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches, most likely for the ambush of an Afghan Force on 19 June 1919. Sold with copied research.