Four: Sergeant-Bugler J. Linder, Highland Light Infantry

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (1408. Sgt. Bugr. J. Linder. 2/High: L.I.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1408, Sgt. Bugr. J. Linder, High: L: I:); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Sjt. J. Linder. High. L.I.); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, light pitting to first from star, otherwise very fine and better (4) £360-440

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Musicians formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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Provenance: McInnes Collection.

Joseph Linder was born on 28 November 1851 in Castlewellan, Co. Down, Ireland, and attested for the 74th Highlanders at Limerick on 28 June 1867. Appointed a Bandsman on 1 April 1871, he was promoted Corporal on 1 October 1881. He served with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry in Egypt from 8 August 1882 until 18 February 1883, was appointed Sergeant Bugler whilst in Egypt on 19 August 1882, and was present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 September 1882, where his battalion suffered more casualties than any other regiment, with 65 officers and men killed or wounded out of a total strength of 339. Whilst in Egypt he distinguished himself by saving the life of a man of his regiment who had fallen into the Nile. A letter in the H.L.I. Chronicle of July 1893 states, ‘It seems hard that no reward should have been made to the non-commissioned officer, Sergeant-Bugler Joseph Linder, who alone out of so many hundreds risked his life in the strong currents- and among the crocodiles!’

Linder subsequently served with the Regiment in India for nearly ten years, from September 1884 until April 1894, where he was a member of the Regimental Football Club and held the important appointment of Regimental Liquor Bar Sergeant, and was discharged on 27 June 1894 after 27 years’ service. Having been awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1885, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal per Army Order 231 in June 1925. He died in 1927.

Sold together with a photograph of the recipient.