Three: Colonel Matthew Tilford, 2nd Battalion, 60th Royal Rifles, late Sergeant-Major

South Africa 1834-53 (Serjt. Major, 2nd Bn. 60th Rifles); Indian Mutiny 1857-58, no clasp (Adjt., 2nd Bn. 60th Ryl. Rifles); China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Lieut., 2nd Bn. 60th Rl. Rifles) all fitted with contemporary silver ribbon buckles, very fine or better and a rare group (3) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection formed by Peter Wardrop.

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See Colour Plate I

Matthew Tilford was born at Sandiacre, Derbyshire, on 13 July 1820, and enlisted for the 2/60th Royal Rifles in February 1841. He was promoted to Corporal in September 1844; Sergeant, October 1846; Colour-Sergeant, November 1850; Sergeant-Major, June 1853. In that rank, the senior N.C.O. in the regiment, he served during the Kaffir War of 1851-53. He was appointed Ensign, without purchase, in May 1855, and was appointed Adjutant in October of the same year, and promoted to Lieutenant & Adjutant, again without purchase, in March 1857. In this capacity he served during the Indian Mutiny in 1858 in the Shahabad district. He resigned as Adjutant in February 1860 before the regiment went to China later that year, serving at the capture of the Taku Forts and Pekin. Tilford was promoted to Captain in the 3/60th in October 1864, exchanged back to the 2nd Battalion the following year, and became Major on the Half Pay in April 1870. He retired with the Honorary rank of Colonel in July 1881 and died at his home in Sandiacre, Derbyshire, on 2 April 1899.