Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Hospital Sergeant Thomas Aitken, Cape Mounted Rifles

South Africa 1834-53 (Serjt. Thos. Aitken, Cape Md. Rifles); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (2130 Serjt. Thos. Aitkin 27th Octr. 1858) engraved naming, suspension on the second neatly re-fixed with soft solder and no longer swivels, light contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and a rare pair (2) £400-£460

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Nicholson Collection of medals to men who fought in the Kaffir Wars of 1834-53.

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Provenance: Bill Hibbard Collection, City Coins, August 1998.

Thomas Aitken was born in the Parish of Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, and was attested for the 71st Foot at Glasgow on 21 June 1838, aged 20, a weaver by trade. He transferred to the 74th Foot on 1 November 1846, was promoted to Corporal in November 1847, to Sergeant in April 1848, and transferred in that rank to the Cape Mounted Rifles on 1 June 1853. He served overseas in Canada 2 years 5 months, in the West Indies 2 years 8 months, and at the Cape of Good Hope 7 years 10 months. He served in the Kaffir War of 1850-53, but saw all his campaign service with the 74th Foot before he transferred to the Cape Mounted Rifles. Hospital Sergeant Thomas Aitken was discharged at Chatham on 19 July 1859, at his own request to pension, being found ‘Fit for further service. No bona fide medical disability’. Sold with copied discharge papers.