Captain Shirley Apthorp was born in India in February 1850 and gazetted to the 59th Foot as an Ensign in February 1869. He served with the Regiment in the Second Afghan War and was present at the action at Urzoo, near Ghuznee, in addition to Ahmed Khel. Apthorp was advanced to Captain in April 1882, transferred to the Border Regiment in November of the same year, and died at St. Helier on Jersey in April 1889, shortly after retiring from military service.