3-052-498 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lieutenant C. J. R. Hearsey, killed in action, Dec. 11 1879, (1880). 'One of the officers of the 9th Lancers, Lieutenant Charles John Rumball Hearsey, killed in the action at Urghundeh [Arghandi], in the Chardeh Valley, near Cabul [Kabul], is deeply regretted by his brother officers, as well as by his family and friends in England. He was not quite twenty-four years of age, and his commission as Lieutenant was dated in February, 1875. He was fifth son of the late Lieutenant-General Sir J. B. Hearsey...The family is one that has served in India ever since 1768...The late Lieutenant, though so young in the service, was employed as field paymaster of his regiment at Lundi Kotul, and officiated as quartermaster, during more than four months, upon a vacancy of that office being caused by death. Captain B. Gough, who was in immediate command of the regiment, wrote to Brigadier-General Macpherson, after the action of Dec. 11, and reported how "poor Hearsey was killed in the first charge." Captain Gough says, "I believe he was knocked off his horse by a gun-shot, and wounded; but when surrounded, on the ground, he made a great fight, running two Afghans through with his sword." His body was brought into the cantonments, and was there buried'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.