British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Squadron Corporal-Major Alexander Blair, Royal Horse Guards, who died of Enteric Fever, 16 March 1900

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (1077 Pte., Rl. H. ....); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Kimberley (1077 Sdn. Corl-Major, R.H. Gds.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1077 Sq. Corp. Maj., R.H. Gds.); Khedive’s Star 1882, reverse impressed, ‘R.H.G. 1077’, first and last with edge bruising and heavy contact marks, fine; others good very fine and better (4) £380-420

Alexander Blair was born in Inverness. He joined the Royal Horse Guards on 31 March 1880, aged 21 years, 2 months. He served with the regiment in the Egypt Campaign of 1882 and was promoted Lance-Corporal in August 1887; Corporal in December 1887; Corporal of Horse in June 1889 and Squadron Corporal-Major in October 1897. Serving then in South Africa, he died of Enteric Fever at Kimberley on 16 March 1900. With copied research including: roll extracts, a photocopied photograph of the recipient and modern photographs of Corporal-Major Blair’s headstone and grave in the cemetery at Kimberley.