A Collection of Medals to the 42nd Highlanders and 73rd Foot (Black Watch)

The Regiment, Award of Merit, bronze-gilt, obverse engraved ‘Sudan 1884’, reverse engraved ‘223 Pte. Henry Shires, D.C.M. 1st. Battn. The Black Watch’, edge bruising very fine £140-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 42nd Highlanders and 73rd Foot (Black Watch).

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Henry Shires was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire. He was employed as a Shoeing Smith prior to attesting for the 6th Brigade at York in July 1880. He transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders in August 1881, and served with the Battalion in Egypt and the Sudan, August 1882 - April 1886. Shires transferred to the Army Reserve in August 1886, and was discharged 25 July 1892.

Shires was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry at Tamaai, and was also entitled to the Egypt Medal with four clasps as well as the Khedive’s Star. He forfeited all his medals as a consequence of being convicted of theft. Shires service papers give his character as ‘very bad twice tried for theft but has proved a gallant soldier in the field.’