The Acton family medals
409
A fine Second Afghan War C.B. group of three awarded to Colonel Charles Ball-Acton, 51st King’s Own Yorkshire
Light Infantry
THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH,C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked
London 1879, with swivel-ring bar suspension but lacking buckle; INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Ensign
Charles Acton, 51st Foot); AFGHANISTAN 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ali Musjid (Col. C. Ball-Acton, 51st Regt.) together with
companion miniature medals, the C.B. in gold, the I.G.S. with contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (6)
£3000-3500
Charles Ball-Acton was appointed Ensign in the 51st Light Infantry on 12 December 1851. He served with the 51st in Burmah from
February 1853 to the end of the war, and was present with Captain Irby’s Detachment of four Companies with Brigadier-General
Cheape’s Force during the whole of the successful operations in the Monabew district, ending in the assault and capture, on the 19th
March 1853, of the stronghold of the Burmese chief Dyattoon (Medal with Clasp for Pegu). Promoted to Lieutenant in June 1854, he
became Captain in January 1858, Major in June 1865, Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1874, and Colonel in December 1879.
Colonel Ball-Acton served with the 51st Regiment throughout both campaigns in Afghanistan, commanding it throughout the second.
The following record of the regiment’s services during the war is taken from Shadbolt’s history of the campaign:
On the 21st Nov., 1878, the 51st K.O.L.I., as a unit of the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, Peshawar Valley F.F., advanced into the Khyber
Pass, and the same day was engaged in the front attack on Ali Musjid. Marching from Jamrud, whither it had recently made its way
from Subathu, the regiment, under the command of Colonel Madden, came within range of the enemy's guns about 1.30 p.m., and two
hours later went into action, six companies occupying various advanced positions on the surrounding heights, and remaining engaged
till darkness closed in. The casualties of the regiment during the day were, one man killed and two wounded. At 7 a.m. the following
morning, three companies, under Lt.-Colonel Ball Acton, conformably with orders received the previous night, crossed the river to
support the projected assault of the 3rd Brigade on a ridge to the enemy's right, and made their way to where the 81st Regt. was
awaiting the order to attack. It was then discovered that the fort had been abandoned in the night, and Lt.-Colonel Acton's companies
shortly afterwards entered it. In the meantime two companies of the regiment under Lieuts. Seppings and Bennett, took possession of
the enemy's camp by the river, capturing some twenty prisoners, two guns, and a quantity of ammunition.
The regiment remained at Ali Musjid on the further advance of the main body of the Division. From the 24th to the 29th Nov. there was
constant firing into the camp at night by the Afridis, considerable numbers of whom assembled on the adjacent ridges. On the night of
the 25th Nov. a daring attempt was made by some two or three hundred of these tribesmen to rush a small picquet, consisting of one
sergeant and fifteen rank and file, under Lieut. Johnson, placed on a hill to the left of the Khyber stream. The attack was gallantly
repulsed, the enemy being very roughly handled. Of the picquet, Sergt. Binge was severely, and four men were slightly, wounded. In
consequence of the unsettled state of the tribes, the regiment was constantly on duty, for some time getting only one night's rest out of
four or five.
On the 19th Dec., 1878, three companies under Lt.-Colonel Acton left Ali Musjid on the first expedition into the Bazar Valley, and
during the succeeding fortnight were engaged with the rest of General Maude's force in destroying the villages and towers of the hostile
Zaka Khel. While leading the column during its retirement from the Valley, on the 22nd Dec., the companies were engaged in some
sharp skirmishing with the enemy on the surrounding heights. In the second expedition into the Bazar Valley, at the latter end of
January, 1879, the regiment was again represented, 200 men under Major Burnaby marching from Ali Musjid on the 25th of that
month, and after being engaged in the various operations of the expeditionary force, returning on the 4th Feb. In the meantime shots
continued to be fired at night into the camp at Ali Musjid, severely wounding, on the 19th Dec., two sentries.
On the 8th March, 1879, the 51st K.O.L.I. was transferred to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, and on the 17th idem marched towards
Jalalabad, where it arrived on the 24th. Three companies under Lt.-Col. Acton took part, en route, in an expedition sent out from
Basawal to Maidanak on the night of the 19th to punish a section of the Shinwarl tribe who had attacked a Survey party under Capt.
Leach, R.E.; and on the 1st April a company under Captain Kenneth accompanied the ill-fated expedition into the Lughman Valley in
which the greater part of a squadron of the 10th Hussars was swept away in the Kabul river and drowned.
After being encamped a month at Jalalabad, the regiment advanced to Safed Sang, where it arrived on the 27th April, and remained till
after the conclusion of peace. On the 8th May it formed part of the guard of honour which received H.H. Yakub Khan. Commencing its
return march towards India on the 5th June, 1879, the 51st L.I., after recrossing the frontier, made its way to Cherat. The excessive
fatigue and hardship endured on the march resulted in many casualties, no less than thirty-five deaths occurring in the month of June,
and nine more in July.
In his report on the services of officers of the 1st Division Peshawar Valley F.F., the Lieut.-General commanding referred to the 51st as
“a regiment excellent in its discipline, and excellent in the soldier-like spirit it has shown throughout.”
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