A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units

Four: Major-General T. John, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, late 2nd Regiment of Foot

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Taku Forts 1860 (Lieut. Thos. John, 1st Bn. 2nd Regt.) officially impressed naming; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85 (Lt. Col. T. John, 2/D.C.L.I.); Ottoman Empire, Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class breast badge, silver, gold, and enamel, with rosette on riband, suspension detached between star and crescent, chips to enamel; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn and housed in a fitted glazed display frame, nearly very fine (4) £1,500-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units.

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Jack Webb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008.

Thomas John was born at Cork on 17 December 1835, and was commissioned Ensign in the 2nd Foot on 10 June 1853, becoming Lieutenant in December 1854. He served in China in 1860, at the capture of the Taku Forts and subsequent operations in the north of the country (Medal with clasp). He exchanged as Captain into the 46th Foot on 2 December 1862, gaining promotion to Major in July 1876, and to Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1881. He served in Egypt at El Magfar, Tel-El-Mahuta, Kassassin (28 August and 9 September, 1882), and commanded the battalion at Tel-el-Kebir after the commanding officer was wounded. He was mentioned in despatches by Major-General Graham, V.C., C.B. for the action at Kassassin on the 28th August 1882 (London Gazette 19 September 1882), received the medal with clasp, Fourth Class of the Osmanieh, and Khedive’s Bronze Star. He also commanded the battalion on the Nile Expedition in 1884-85, and in the advance column under Major-General Earle (Clasp).

Placed on half-pay in the rank of Colonel in September 1885, John received promotion to the rank of honorary Major-General in December 1885. He died in Bedford on 17 April 1898.

Sold with copied research.