Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South Africa 1834-53 (J. Butler. 45th Regt.) minor edge bruising and light contact marks, otherwise very fine £300-£400

James Butler was born at Banbury, Oxfordshire, and enlisted into the 45th Foot on 26 July 1837, aged 18 years 3 months, a whitesmith by trade. He served abroad at Gibraltar 1 year 9 months, at Monte Video 10 months, and at the Cape of Good Hope 9 years 7 months, where he participated in the 3rd Kaffir War. His conduct was noted as ‘Bad’. He was tried five times by Court Martial, for habitual drunkenness three times and twice for desertion, at Windsor 10 July 1839 and at Brecon 30 December 1840 - marked with a scar “D” for deserter. He was discharged at Chatham on 14 October 1856, to reside in Banbury.