South Yorkshire Times, February 26, 1949

Kabul to Kandahar

Mexborough Survivor of Classic March is 91

Mexborough only boasts one Chelsea pensioner but the town’s oldest soldier, 91 years old Mr. John Hunt, had the opportunity to become an married, inmate of the Chelsea Hospital but, being he preferred to stay at home. Mr. Hurst is probably the only man living who took part inthe famous operation under Lord Roberts, when British forces marched 320 miles through wild Indian country, to the relief of Kandahar during the Afghan War.

https://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/articles/kandahar_march.php

Swords and Lances

Mr. Hurst, who lives with his wife at 87, Chaucer Road, still has a bronze star awarded to him for his part in  that historic march from Kabul to Randahar. The 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers was Mr. Hurst’s regiment, arid he told a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter this week that when they eventually reached Kandahar they attacked and defeated the Afghans after having one night’s sleep. ” In those days we were mounted on horseback and armed with swords, lances, and carbines.” said Mr. Hurst.

Son of a Doncaster railway engineer, Mr. Hurst enlisted in the Lancers at Doncaster in 1874. He was under age at the time, but told the authorities he was 18. He was drafted to India the year following his enlistment and returned to England in 1880. After 12 years’ service, Mr. Hurst was released and went to work as a miner at Denaby Main, where he remained for years until his retirement. For his service to the mining industry, Mr. Hurst was recently awarded a long service medal by the National Union of Mineworkers.

It was not until he had been out of the army for several years that Mr. Hurst married. He is now living with his second wife, who is 73. They have been married 18 years.

” Young men grumble about soldiering now, so I don’t know what, they would have done in my day. said Mr. Hurst. “But if I had my time to come over again I should do exactly what I have done.”