China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Canton 1857 (Steward Neil Boyle, Medical Staff Corps.) officially impressed naming, edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine £160-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to the Medical Services from the Collection of the late Tony Sabell.

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Neil Boyle was born in Enniscorthy, Co. Wrexford. He enlisted at Dublin as a Boy in the 57th Foot on 6 August 1833. He was promoted to Drummer later the same month and attained the rank of Colour Sergeant in February 1852. Transferring to the newly formed Medical Staff Corps, he was ranked as a Steward in the Purveyor’s Department on 10 October 1855 - the rank being equivalent to that of a Sergeant-Major. He was ranked as a Sergeant-Major in 1857 when the M.S.C. became the Army Hospital Corps. Sergeant-Major Boyle was discharged at Chatham on 28 March 1864, having served nearly 12 years in the East Indies and over one year apiece in the Ionian Islands, Turkey and the Crimea and China. For his services he was awarded the Crimea Medal with three clasps, Turkish Crimea; China Medal and Army L.S. & G.C. With copied service papers.