2nd Afghan War Medal 1878-80 awarded to Major-General Reginald William Sartorius, 8th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry

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.

Reginald William Sartorious (1841-1907) was born on the Isle of Wight on 8 May 1841. A veteran of the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), Sartorious fought with the 72nd Bengal Native Infantry in the Bhutan War (1864-1865). Serving with the 6th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, Sartorious was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during the 2nd Ashanti War (1873-1874), in present day Ghana. At Abogoo, on 17 January 1874, he rescued a wounded comrade under heavy fire. Sartorious went on to serve in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), in which campaign his brother Euston also won the Victoria Cross. Reginald William Sartorious died on the Isle of Wight on 8 August 1907.

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 Reginald William Sartorius, 6th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry.