Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Major C. B. Fitzhenry, 7th Hussars, late South Staffordshire Regiment

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Kirbekan (Lieut: C. B. Fitz-Henry, 1/S. Staffs: R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (Capt. C. B. Fitz-Henry, 7/Hussars:); British War and Victory Medals (Major C. B. Fitzhenry.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, mounted as worn, the first with light pitting from star, good fine, otherwise good very fine (5) £700-£900

Claude Brittain FitzHenry was born at Litherland, Waterloo, Liverpool, in November 1862, the son of an Irish physician, Edward H. FitzHenry, M.D. Educated at Uppingham, the young FitzHenry was originally commissioned as a Lieutenant in the South Staffordshire Regiment, direct from the Wexford Militia, in May 1884. He subsequently served in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85, including the action at Kirbekan (Medal & 2 clasps; Khedive’s Star), and with the Soudan Field Force during operations on the Upper Nile in 1885-86. Advanced to Captain in February 1891, he transferred to the 7th Hussars in October of the same year and was employed as an instructor at Sandhurst from 1898 to 1900. He served in the South African war between 1899 and 1901, on the Staff and as Brigade Major to an Infantry Brigade. He also took part in the several operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Natal and the Transvaal, between 1900 and 1901 (Queen’s Medal with 4 clasps). FitzHenry resigned his commission shortly afterwards and emigrated to Canada, where he settled at Cobble Hill, south of Duncan, on Vancouver Island. He is recorded in Imperial Vancouver Island’s Who’s Who 1850-1950 as a retired Major who contributed to a patriotic fund in November 1914.

Note: Another Egypt and Sudan Medal with the same two clasp, correctly named to ‘Lieut. C. B. Fitzhenry, 7/Dn. Gds.’ was sold in these rooms in February 2016.