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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 60

(x) A rare campaign group of six awarded to Serjeant R. H. Aldridge, Cameron Highlanders later Royal Fusiliers

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, no clasp, dated reserve (1418 Pte R. H. Aldridge. Cameron Highlanders.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hazara 1891 (141[...] Aldridge 2nd Bn. Sea. Highrs.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (9006 Pte. R, Aldrige. 2nd Rl. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (58970 Sjt. R. H. Aldridge R. Fus); Khedive's Star, undated, unnamed, sometime lacquered, pitting, contact marks, edge bruising, overall nearly very fine (6)

One of 28 no-clasp Egypt and Sudan Medals awarded to the Cameron Highlanders.

Robert Henry Aldridge was born at St. Pancras, London in 1884 and attested on 6 August 1884 with the Cameron Highlanders. Posted to join the 1st Battalion in India- where they had been stationed since 1881- Aldridge was became one of 28 men of the Regiment to earn a no-clasp Egypt and Sudan Medal. Arriving on 3 March 1885 he was to see further service there with the Hazara 1891 expedition. Returning to Britain on 22 February 1892 he was posted to the Army Reserve on 1 March 1892 and was discharged in 1896.

Finding work as a Carman Aldridge returned to service in 1900 during the Anglo-Boer War which saw him re-attest at London on 23 January 1900. Entering the war in South Africa on 3 April 1900 with the 2nd Battalion he was discharged on 4 July but- not to be denied- joined the Imperial Yeomanry and returned to the country in 1902. Re-entering the war there he served with 173 Squadron, 39th (Berkshire) Battalion from May before returning to Britain and being again demobilised.

Remarkably, despite a seeing so much service over the course of his youth Aldridge returned to the colours yet again on the outbreak of the Great War, joining the 17th (Empire) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on 9 September 1914. Initially he served at home, being posted to the 27th (Reserve) Battalion in 1915 however after the Somme Offensive he was given the opportunity to serve in France. Aldridge was posted to the 3rd Battalion, entering the war in France on 29 September 1916 and served there until 2 March 1917.

Seeing service at home until November he was finally discharged as permanently unfit on 23 November; sold together with copied service papers.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550