NAM.1950-11-55-13

Capt J Airey, 3rd Foot (The Buffs). From folio of 29 coloured lithographs by and after Lt Vincent Eyre, Bengal Artillery, (to be) published by John Murray, 1843. Officers, ladies, and scenes in Afghanistan, 1842. From drawings made during the artist’s capture in Afghanistan; some with notes for printing; in green leather bound album. Capt J Airey, 3rd (The East Kent) Regiment of Foot (The Buffs), seated, in Afghan dress. Associated with the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842). James Talbot Airey (1812-1898) joined the British Army in 1830. In 1841 he accompanied Major-General Elphinstone, the newly appointed commander of the Kabul garrison, to the Afghan capital as his ADC. Following the uprising against Shah Shuja and the British, Airey was taken hostage by Akbar Khan on 21 December 1841. After several months captivity, he was eventually released in September 1842 when Major-General Sir George Pollock’s Army of Retribution arrived in Kabul. He later served during the Gwalior campaign of 1843, taking part in the Battle of Punniar (29 December 1843). Airey then served during the Crimean War (1854-1856) as Assistant Quarter-Master General of the Light Division and was made a Companion of the Bath for his services. Promoted to colonel in 1859, he was appointed lieutenant-general and made a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) in 1877. He eventually retired with the rank of general in 1881.

Kabul, Retreat from, 1842 (1st Afghan War 1838-1842)