The regiments authorized to bear this distinction are the

King's Liverpool.
Seaforth Highlanders.
12th Cavalry.
23rd Pioneers.
29th Punjabis.
56th Punjab Rifles.
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
5th Gurkhas.

A medal and clasp, inscribed "Peiwar Kotal," were issued to the troops engaged.

The battle honour commemorates a sharp little fight between the Kuram column of the Afghan army, commanded by Major-General Frederick Roberts, of the Royal Artillery, and the Afghan army. The Afghans were drawn up behind a strongly entrenched position on the summit of the Peiwar Kotal, a pass at the entrance of the Kuram route to Kabul. Their numbers were estimated at 10,000 men, and they had a well-equipped force of artillery. The position was capable of being turned by a well-known but exceedingly difficult path, known as the Spin Gawi. Roberts determined to turn the position with the bulk of his force, numbering only 2,263 men, with eight guns, whilst a frontal attack was entrusted to Brigadier Cobbe, with 1,000 men and five guns. Starting at midnight, the turning column pushed up an almost inaccessible path in the dead of night, and as dawn broke appeared on the left flank of the astonished Afghans. The resistance was for a time stubborn, but as the troops were enabled to form across the ridges and bring a rifle-fire to bear on the enemy, the issue soon was put beyond doubt, and so the future Earl Roberts was able to secure his first victory.

Casualties at the Action of the Peiwar Kotal, December 2, 1879.

Regiments.Officers.Men.
K.W.K.W.
Royal Artillery1--3
8th K. Liverpl.-117
72nd Seaforth Highlanders-129
12th Cavalry----
23rd Pioneers1-27
29th Punjabis--512
56th Punjabi Rifles--711
58th Vaughan's Rifles---4
5th Gurkhas--216

The army destined for the invasion of Afghanistan from the south was double the strength of the northern columns. It was composed of two divisions, which were under the command of Lieutenant-General Donald Stewart, an officer of the Indian army who had held a high staff appointment at the Siege of Delhi, had subsequently commanded the Bengal division in the expedition to Abyssinia, and who had seen a considerable amount of service on the Peshawar frontier when Adjutant of a native regiment. He had held responsible staff appointments in peace, and had earned a good reputation for handling large bodies of troops at manœuvres. The command of the Second Division was entrusted to Major-General Michael Biddulph, an artillery officer who had done good service in the Crimea, and had served in many situations in India, in all of which he had displayed high military qualifications. This army, the composition of which is given below, was intended to provide for the occupation of Southern Afghanistan, and also to despatch one division to join hands with the northern army at Kabul, should such a step be deemed advisable. From Multan and Quetta as bases, the Kandahar army advanced on the capital of Southern Afghanistan, which was occupied without resistance.

Kandahar Field Force.

First Division: Lieutenant-General Donald Stewart commanding.

Cavalry Brigade—Brigadier-General Walter Fane, C.B.: 15th Hussars, 8th Cavalry, 19th Fane's Lancers.