Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Major-General Thomas John, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, late 2nd Foot

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Taku Forts 1860 (Lieut. Thos. John, 1st Bn. 2nd Regt.) officially impressed naming; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85 (Lt. Col. T. John, 2/D.C.L.I.); Order of Osmanieh, 4th Class, silver, gold and enamels, suspension detached between star and crescent, chips to enamel; Khedive’s Star 1882, mounted as worn and contained in fitted glass fronted frame, nearly very fine (4) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Egypt and Sudan Medals 1882-1891 from the Collection of Jack Webb.

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Thomas John was born at Cork on 17 December 1835, and was gazetted 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 (2/D.C.L.I.) 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, 4th 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, he received promotion to Hon. Major-General in December 1885. Major-General John, who was the father-in-law of John 2nd Earl of Ypres, died at Bedford on 17 April 1898.