A fine Cavalry Officer’s Second Afghan War Kabul to Kandahar casualty pair awarded to Lieutenant F. Mardall, 3rd Punjab Cavalry, later of the 2nd Punjab Infantry who as Adjutant had taken part in the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar as well as the Battle of Kandahar on 1st September 1880. Mardall died in camp at Sajani on the 9th November 1880. He has a grave at Dera Khan which notes ‘In affectionate memory of Frank Mardall Lieut and adjutant 3rd Punjab Cavalry, born October 24th 1851 died November 9th 1880, interred here March 30th 1881.
Pair: Afghanistan Medal 1878-1880, 1 Clasp: Kandahar; engraved naming (LT. F. MARDALL. 3RD PUNJAB CAVY.) Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880; (LIEUT. F. MARDALL. 3RD PUNJAB CAVALRY.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
Frank Mardall was born at Madras on 24th October 1851, the son of Major-General Francis Mardall, Madras Staff Corps. He entered His Majesty’s service on 8th June 1872 as a Sub-Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, 21st Foot, and was afterwards promoted to the rank of Lieutenant from the same date. He travelled to india in August of the same year, and joined the battalion at Bangalore, and accompanied it to Fort St. George in the following December. On the 30th September 1874 he was appointed Officiating First Wing Subaltern in the 2nd Punjab Infantry, on probation for the Bengal Staff Corps, into which he was subsequently admitted with effect from that date. He joined the Regiment at Dera Ghazi Khan, whence, in January 1875, he marched with it to Dera Ismail Khan. In April 1875 he was appointed Officiating Second Squadron Subaltern in the 3rd Punjab Cavalry which he joined at Dera Ismail Kha, and he remained in that position (once officiating as First Squadron Subaltern and twice as Third Squadron Officer., and he continued officiating as such until January 1877, when under the new organisation then introduced, the designation of his permanent appointment was altered to Squadron Officer.
From May to October 1877 he officiated as Adjutant of the regiment, and in February 1878 he was appointed to officiate as Third Squadron Commander. In this position he remained for twelve months. In March 1878 he moved with the regiment to Edwardesabad (Bannu). From the beginning of February to the end of April 1879 he officiated as second Squadron Commander. He was then appointed to officiate as Adjutant, and he continued officing until the middle of the following August, when he was made permanent in the appointment. From November 1879 to March 1880, he again officiated as Third Squadron Commander. In the spring of 1880, as Adjutant, he accompanied the regiment on service to Afghanistan, where he took part in the movement to Shekhabad and in various other operations, ending with the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar, the battle of Mazra or Kandahar, and the subsequent expedition against the Marri Clans. On the conclusion of these last operations he moved towards the British provinces with his regiment, which was under orders for Kohat, but he did not live to reach his destination, having died in camp at Sajani on the 9th November 1880.
Mardall has a grave at Dera Khan which notes ‘In affectionate memory of Frank Mardall Lieut and adjutant 3rd Punjab Cavalry, born October 24th 1851 died November 9th 1880, interred here March 30th 1881.
