Ahmed Khel Clasp – Original

Ahmed Khel clasp, original example of the campaign bar awarded with the Afghanistan Medal 1878–1880 for service during the Battle of Ahmed Khel in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Manufactured in silver, this original “Ahmed Khel” clasp was awarded to officers and men of the British and Indian Armies who took part in the Battle of Ahmed Khel, fought on 19 April 1880 during Major General Donald Stewart‘s march from Kandahar to Kabul. The clasp was attached to the ribbon of the Afghanistan Medal 1878–1880, signifying participation in one of the war’s fiercest engagements.

The battle occurred when Stewart’s column was attacked by a large force of Ghilzai tribesmen near the village of Ahmed Khel. British and Indian infantry, cavalry, and artillery were subjected to repeated assaults as the Afghan warriors attempted to overwhelm the advancing column. Despite the intensity of the attack, disciplined rifle fire, artillery support, and cavalry charges enabled the British force to repel the attackers and continue its advance towards Kabul.

The Ahmed Khel clasp was awarded to those directly engaged in the battle and remains one of the most recognisable clasps issued with the Afghanistan Medal. The engagement demonstrated the determination of Afghan tribal forces and the resilience of British and Indian troops operating under arduous conditions across the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan.

Original Afghanistan Medal clasps are highly sought after by collectors of Victorian campaign medals and British Empire militaria. Individual clasps such as Ahmed Khel are particularly desirable for medal restoration projects, specialist collections, and displays illustrating Britain’s nineteenth-century campaigns on the North-West Frontier.

Manufactured in silver and retaining its original construction, this example represents an authentic and collectable piece of Victorian military history.

Dimensions

Approx. 36mm × 13mm

Condition

Good overall original condition, with part of the carriage of another clasp remaining attached. Light wear, minor surface marks, and signs of handling consistent with age may be present. An excellent original example of a desirable Afghanistan Medal campaign clasp.