Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Conductor of Stores F. Riches, Ordnance Store Department, late Battery Sergeant Major, Royal Artillery

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (1149 By. Sergt. Maj: F. Riches. 6th. Bde. R.A.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Cond: of Stores, F. Riches, O.S. Dept.); Coronation 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (885. B.S. Maj: F. Riches, 6th. Bde. R.A.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, reverse contemporarily engraved ‘C. of S. F. Riches. O.S. Dept.’, light pitting from star, good very fine (5) £700-£900

Provenance: Robert Lamb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999.

Frederick Riches was born at Wymondham, Norfolk, in September 1841 and attested for the Royal Artillery at Norwich in October 1858. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1877, and served in the Zulu War of 1879 as Battery Sergeant Major of “O” Battery, 6th Brigade, Royal Artillery. In September 1880 he was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant on the District Staff and two months later appointed Conductor of Stores, Ordnance Stores Department, Dublin. In this capacity he served in Egypt and took part in the operations around Suakin in 1885. He was discharged to pension in November 1888.

Sold with a Victorian Battery Sergeant Major’s bullion arm patch; an original but faded portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform wearing medal ribands; and copied service papers and medal roll extracts.