2nd Afghan War Medal 1878-80, awarded to Major General Euston Henry Sartorius, 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment

Circular, silver medal with, on the obverse, a portrait of Queen Victoria, with the inscription, 'Victoria Regina et Imperatrix'. On the reverse, an elephant carrying an artillery piece, with infantry and lancers on the march, with the inscription, 'Afghanistan 1878-79-80'. The medal is suspended on a green ribbon with vertical crimson edges.

Euston Henry Sartorius was born in Portugal on 6 June 1844. On 24 October 1879, while on campaign in Afghanistan serving with the 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment, Sartorius led a small force of men in an assault on an enemy position on a steep hill. During the successful attack Sartorius was wounded by sword cuts to both hands, which resulted in the partial loss of use of his left hand. Sartorius won the Victoria Cross for his actions at Shahjui and he received the gallantry award from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 1 July 1881.

Sartorius went on to serve in Egyptian War of 1882, retired from the Army in 1905 and died at his home in Chelsea in London on 19 February 1925.

All Indian and British participants in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) received the Afghan War Medal. Six clasps were awarded for the following actions: Ali Masjid (22 November 1878), Peiwar Kotal (2 December 1878), Charasia (6 October 1879), Kabul (operations around Kabul and defence of Sherpur December 1879), Ahmed Khel (19 April 1880) and Kandahar (1 September 1880).

From a medal group awarded to Major General Euston Henry Sartorius (1844-1925), 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment.