Afghanistan Medal

We don't know anything about Frank's early life or family.

He joined the 63rd Regiment of Foot during the mid 19th century and was given the service number 572.

The 63rd Regiment played a small part in the Second Afghan War of 1878-80. Frank was with them in August 1880 when they marched from Sibi in modern Pakistan to try to relieve British forces under siege in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Another force marching south from the Afghan capital Kabul got there first so Frank will have seen very little fighting. After the end of the war the 63rd Regiment stayed in Kandahar until the British withdrew in April 1881.

We believe that Frank was still in the 63rd Regiment when it became the 1st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on the 1st July 1881. He had left it by August 1882 when it sailed for Egypt.

The rest of Frank's life remains a mystery.

His medal was donated to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in around 1960.