Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Corporal G. Emery, South Wales Borderers, late 69th Regiment

Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1870 (978 Sejt., 69: Regt.) impressed naming; South Africa 1877-79, clasp, 1879 (1880 Corpl., 1-24th Foot) minor contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise good very fine and a rare combination (2) £600-700

Sergeant George Emery served with the 69th Regiment in Canada and was present at the action at Trout River on 27 May 1870. A Canadian force of 250 strong, consisting of the 50th Battalion (Huntingdon Borderers), Montreal Artillery and Montreal Engineers, along with a detachment of the 69th Regiment, met the Fenians early in the morning. After an advance of great steadiness by the Canadians and British, the Fenians broke and fled across the border. Three Fenians were killed, several wounded and one man was captured.

George Emery was born in the Parish of Stoke-upon-Trent, near Longton, Staffordshire, and attested for the 69th Regiment at Gosport on 25 July 1864. He was a potter before enlistment. In February 1879 he volunteered to the 25th Brigade of Infantry and joined the 1st 24th Regiment, with whom he served in South Africa from March to October 1879. In January 1880 he transferred again, this time to the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, and went out to India. He suffered a self-inflicted gun shot wound to his left cheek when at Agra in July 1882, but was not discharged from the Army until 29 December 1885. Sold with copy service papers.