South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (954. Sergt. J. Carkson. 1/24th Foot.) note spelling of surname, brilliant extremely fine £6000-7000

Sergeant John Clarkson was killed in action at Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879.

Clarkson attested on 21 April 1864, aged 18 years, and re-engaged at Malta on 21 March 1871. He was promoted to Corporal in April 1873, and to Sergeant on 1 October 1874. His effects were claimed by his father. A brief mention is made of him in The Road to Isandhlwana, by Philip Gon:

‘‘A’ Company was told to move up in support of the guns. With William Degacher commanding the battalion, Francis Porteous was its only officer, but his men were veterans of the Trasnkian campaign and his sergeants, Brown, Clarkson and Heppenstall, were all old soldiers...’