Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Khedive’s Star, 1884 (1731 Drummer J. Pickston, 1st Y. & L.) naming impressed on reverse centre, light contact marks and the arm points a little bruised, otherwise very fine £100-120

John Pickston, who was born at Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare, enlisted in the 65th Foot as a boy recruit in November 1869, aged 14 years. Appointed a Drummer in December 1870, he remained similarly employed until his advancement to Lance-Corporal in November 1886, following a stint of active service in the Sudan in 1884, which included participation in the action at El-Teb, for which he received the appropriate Medal and clasp. He had, in the interim, been confined and tried by Court Martial for being found drunk on duty, but this appears to have been a rare misdemeanour, and by the time of his discharge in December 1890, he had risen to the rank of Lance-Sergeant.