Orders, Decorations and Medals

South Africa 1877-79, clasp, 1877-8-9 (T. Gleeson, A.B. H.M.S. “Active”) contact marks, therefore nearly very fine £350-400

Only 124 clasps for 1877-8-9 issued to the Royal Navy, most of the recipients being from H.M.S. Active.

Thomas Gleeson was born on 26 February 1860 in the Parish of St Nicholas, Cork, and joined the Royal Navy in 1875. He served aboard H.M.S. Active from July 1877 to October 1879 and formed part of the Naval Brigade landed from Active in South Africa. He joined H.M.S. Invincible in March 1882 and took part in the Egyptian campaign, earning the medal with clasp for Alexandria 11 July and the Khedive’s Star. His career continued in numerous ships and with rises in rate to become Petty Officer 1st Class in April 1897. He was discharged to Shore on 7 October 1907 as “Unsuitable”, his conduct on previous occasions denying him the L.S. & G.C. medal.