Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1865 to 1866 (7399. Sapr. George Walsh. Ryl. Engrs.) officially impressed naming, toned, good very fine £900-£1,200

Jubilee Collection, Glendining’s, May 1992.

Only 16 medals with these reverse dates issued to the Royal Engineers.

George Walsh was born in the Parish of St Michael’s, Dublin, and attested there for the Royal Engineers on 8 December 1862, aged 23 years 6 months, a carpenter by trade. He served in New Zealand for one year 308 days during the Wanganui campaign of 1865-66, including the actions at Nukumaru on 23-24 January 1865, and Kakaramea on 13 March 1865. He was discharged at Chatham on 9 November 1874, having been found unfit from chronic synovitis and lameness of the right knee, by marching and service, possibly with exposure to wet and cold; he became permanently lame. His name appears in the Regimental Defaulters’ Book 14 times, and he was court martialled twice, yet was still noted as being in possession of one good conduct badge.