Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1865 to 1866 (Lieut. C. O. Cornish, 2nd Bn. 18th Ryl. Irish Regt.), regiment officially re-impressed, good very fine £350-400

George Orchard Cornish was born in Calcutta in April 1839, the son of a Captain in the Bengal Artillery. Appointed an Ensign in the 18th Royal Irish Regiment in November 1858, he was embarked as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion for New Zealand in October 1864, in which capacity he witnessed active service in the Wanganui campaign in 1865-66 (Medal), as well as serving in Australia in 1870; see Michael A. Kavanagh’s article on the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, in New Zealand 1863-1870, O.M.R.S. Journal, Spring 1994, for full details.

Having then served as Adjutant in the 2nd Battalion from January 1870 until March 1871, he transferred to the 73rd Foot in August 1873, and was placed on the Retired List as a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1881. Settling at the family estate at Gatcombe, near Totnes, Devon, he died in 1905; sold with a file of research, including copied service record.