South Africa 1834-53 (P. Walsh. Cape Md. Rifles.) contact marks, otherwise very fine £300-£360

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Nicholson Collection of medals to men who fought in the Kaffir Wars of 1834-53.

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Patrick Walsh was born in the Parish of Kilmain, near Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and attested for the 45th Foot at Coventry on 18 November 1837, aged 18 years 8 months. He deserted on 31 March 1840, at Newport, until 3 April 1840, being tried by District Court Martial and sentenced to 4 month hard labour. He deserted again at Cardiff on 27 September 1840, rejoined at Dublin in 10 June 1842, this time being convicted of desertion and sentenced to 6 lunar months imprisonment with hard labour and to be marked “D”. He served abroad at the Cape of Good Hope for 16 years, taking part in the Kaffir Wars of 1846-47 and 1850-53. He was tried by a Regimental Court Martial at Fort Napier, Natal, on 28 April 1851, and sentenced to 30 days hard labour. In August 1857 he transferred to the Cape Mounted Rifles and served a further 3 years 258 days with that unit before being discharged at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, on 21 May 1861, being ‘in possession of a Medal for the Kaffir Campaigns of 1846-7 & 1850-3.’ Sold with copied discharge papers.