South Africa 1834-53 (Corpl. Jas. Schofield 1st Bn. 2nd Regt.) renamed in upright capitals, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £100-£150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Nicholson Collection of medals to men who fought in the Kaffir Wars of 1834-53.

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Sold with a white metal regimental button in excavated condition.

James Schofield was born at Bury, Lancashire, and enlisted at Salford on 20 June 1845, aged 17 years 11 months. In June 1848, he was convicted by a Court Martial for desertion and sentenced with letter ‘D’ and 112 days imprisonment with hard labour. He was convicted on two further occasions, once for absence and once for neglect of duty, and again imprisoned with hard labour in both cases. He was promoted to Corporal in April 1854 but reduced to Private after his final conviction in November 1855. He served in the Kaffir War of 1850-53, and also in China in 1860, being present at the capture of the Taku Forts and the city of Pekin. He was finally discharged on 26 September 1861, at which time he was in possession of ‘two distinctive marks of merit.’ Together with copied discharge papers and other research.