Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (1416, L/Sergt. S. Swan. 2/Essex. R.) heavy pitting from Star, edge bruising, fine £140-£180

Stephen Swan attested for the Essex Regiment in 1880 and was promoted Corporal in 1883, Sergeant in 1885, and Colour Sergeant in 1890. In addition to serving with the 2nd Battalion during the Gordon Relief Expedition, he saw further service with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps for Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, and Diamond Hill, one of only 20 officers and men from the Essex Regiment to be awarded both the Egypt and Sudan Medal with clasp ‘The Nile 1884-85’ and the Queen’s South Africa Medal). Awarded the 1902 Coronation Medal in bronze (the only N.C.O. of a regular battalion of the Essex Regiment to receive this medal, and hence the recipient of a unique combination of awards to the Regiment), he was discharged in 1905.