A Very Good 'Bajour/Mohmand Operations & Capture of Tanga Pass' India Medal, B.W.M, & L.S.&.G.C (Valuable Services Recommendation to the Secretary of State for War) Medal Group, awarded to 5555/1392 Staff Sergeant Arthur Ewens, 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, and later the Military Provost Staff Corps.

Arthur Ewens was born during 1876, at Boxgrove, Sussex. He joined the ranks of the Highland Light Infantry (service No. 5555) at Aldershot on the 1st of November 1894, where he initially served in India with the 2nd Battalion, where they were involved in operations at Bajour and the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass. The following is from an online source -

As a party of Royal West Kents cleared a sangar, Lieutenant Clayton Browne was killed and several men wounded. A force of swordsmen charged the troops and drove them out of the sangar, whereupon the supporting company of the Royal West Kents advanced with the bayonet and dispersed the tribesmen.

By now, Gat was partially destroyed, but more tribesmen were advancing from Zai and the commanding officer of the Royal West Kents considered it prudent to withdraw his battalion.

Once clear of Gat, the whole force retired to the camp at Inayat Kila, arriving at 4.30pm.

British casualties on the day were 2 officers and 10 men killed with 7 officers and 42 men wounded. Tribal casualties were severe. 4 leading maliks were known to have been killed and there were many dead bodies in and around Gat.

It was now apparent that Brigadier General Jeffreys’ Second Brigade was not strong enough to compel the Mamunds to submit.

On 2nd October 1897, General Sir Bindon Blood left the Panjkora depot for the camp at Inayat Kila with a squadron of Guides Cavalry, No.8 Bengal Mountain Battery and 4 companies of 24th Punjab Infantry.

Brigadier General Meiklejohn followed, with 10th Field Battery, RA, armed with 12 pounder field guns, No.5 Company Madras Sappers and Miners and 2nd Highland Light Infantry, arriving at Inayat Kila on 4th October 1897.

1st Royal West Kents after the fight at Agrah and Gat on 29th September 1897: Malakand Field Force, 8th September 1897 to 12th October 1897 on the North-West Frontier of India

On 2nd October 1897, Brigadier General Jeffreys marched out of Inayat Kila in the direction of Agrah and Gat with much the same force as in his previous operation on 29th September 1897, with the addition of No.8 Mountain Battery, RA.

Expecting the attack to fall again on Agrah and Gat, to complete the destruction of Gat, the tribesmen gathered in strength on the hills above the village.

But Jeffreys’ column turned off to the right and headed for the village of Badalai. Badalai was destroyed and Jeffreys’ column was on the return march to Inayat Kila, when the tribesmen came up from the direction of Chingai and attempted to envelope the British column, but were checked by the cavalry and the fire of the infantry.

Second Brigade casualties in this operation were 2 men killed, and 17 men wounded.

On 4th October 1897, with the arrival of the fresh troops in Inayat Kila, the two brigades and the divisional reserve were re-organised.

The Mamunds were aware of the arrival at Inayat Kila of the significant number of fresh troops and realised that the Government of India intended to devote whatever resources were necessary to defeat them. The Khan of Nawagai was requested to act as go-between in negotiating a peace settlement.

In view of the substantial casualties the Mamunds had suffered in the fighting and the number of villages and crops that had been destroyed, the sole requirement made of the tribe was to return all the rifles captured from British and Indian troops during the fighting. This was done and the Mamunds sent all their allies, from outside the area, back to their homes.

To ensure the preservation of the new peace, the Mamunds picketed the British camps to ensure they were not attacked or sniped at.

The Afghan general, Sipah Salar, attempted to persuade the Mamunds not to return the rifles captured, but this was done.

On 11th October 1897, Sir Bindon Blood received the Mamund jirga in durbar. A declaration was read, and hostilities were closed.

Looking at his copy service records, Arthur Ewens appears to have transferred to the Military Provost Staff Corps circa 1901, where he was eventually promoted to Staff Sergeant (Service No. 1392). he served in Gibraltar from the 21st of March 1913, through to the 31st of October 1916. He was later to receive a Valuable Services recommendation to the War Office (order No. 488) on the 28th of August 1919. It reads ‘Brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for Valuable Services rendered in connection with the war’.

Arthur was awarded his L.S.&.G.C. Medal during 1913 (A.O.117), and he was discharged from the Army on the 16th of December 1919.

The medals are mounted for display on original ribbons, come with an original ribbon bar, copied research confirming all of the above, and that this is Arthur Ewens full and correct medal and clasp entitlement, and both service numbers are to the same man, and the medals are as follows -

India Medal 1896, clasp, PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897-1898, No. 5555 PTE. A. EWENS. 2 HIGH. L. I.; British War Medal, 1392 S. SJT. A. EWENS. M. P. S. C.; G.V Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, 1392 SJT : A. EWENS. M. P. S. C.

Condition, India Medal, edge knock at 3 o’clock, otherwise very fine and better. All three medals are correctly named etc