Description Ghuznee Medal, 23rd July 1839, Private George Anderson, Her Majesty’s 16th Lancers. Fitted with a well made replacement silver suspension post and contemporary slightly rusted steel straight bar suspension, similar to the Cabul & Jellalabad medal. Officially engraved on reverse centre in attractive running script: “Private Geo Anderson Her Ms 16th Lancers” The following is an extract from the Historical Record of the 16th Lancers regarding the siege; “Breaking up from Candahar, on the 27th of June, the army moved along a valley of dismal sterility includes between mountains of bare rock, to the Turnuk river, then advancing up the right bank, passed the confines of the territory recently subject to the Barukzye Chiefs of Candahar, traversed the country of the Ghilzees, and arrived in the vicinity of Ghuznee, a fortress of great strength, garrisoned by upwards of three thousand Affghans under Moohummed Hyder, who had determined on a desperate defence, and was well provided with stores. A squadron of the Sixteenth accompanied the Commander-in-Chief in a reconnoissance of the place on the 21st of July; on the 22nd, the regiment supported the Shah’s troops in repelling the attack of a body of mountaineers, who were fanatics of a desperate character; they were driven back with the loss of many killed and taken prisoners. Every gate of Ghuznee had been blocked up by masonry but one; to this gate of quantity of gunpowder was brought secretly in the night, and before daylight on the morning of the 23rd of July, the gate was destroyed, and the town captured by assault. The cavalry regiments were stationed round the town to prevent the escape of the garrison, and to hold in check the numerous bands of Affghan horsemen assembled in the neighbourhood. The Sixteenth swept the plain to the southward of the town and intercepted many fugitives. When the Affghan horsemen learnt the fate of the town, they fled towards Cabool, leaving behind them their camp equipage and baggage.” After the Siege of Ghuznee, the 16th Lancers were selected to form the Escort of the Commander-in-Chief, Lieut General Sir John Keane, on his return to India, and commenced their march on the 15th of October 1939. on the 11th of December, when fording the wide and rapid river Jilum, Captain Hilton, Ten Men, and thirteen Horses were drowned, in consequence of mistaking the direction of the ford. The regiment arrived at Lahore on the 25th of December, re entering the British territories on the 1st of January 1840, arriving in the Meerut Barracks on 8th February 1840, this expedition to the Dooranee Empire, had lost them 3 officers, 83 men and 231 horses.
