Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Kirbekan (Lieut. C. B. Fitzhenry, 7/Dn. Gds.), contact marks, fine or better £400-500

Claude Brittain FitzHenry was born at Litherland, Waterloo, Liverpool in November 1862, the son of an Irish physician, Edward H. FitzHenry, M.D.

Educated at Uppingham, young Claude was originally commissioned in the South Staffordshire Regiment - direct from the Wexford Militia - in May 1884. He subsequently served in the Nile Expedition 1884-85, including the action at Kirbekan (Medal & 2 clasps; Khedive’s Star), and with the Soudan Field Force during operations on the Upper Nile 1885-86. Advanced to Captain in February 1891, he transferred to the 7th Hussars in October of the same year and appears to have served in South Africa in 1896-98.

Having been employed as an Instructor at Sandhurst 1898-1900, FitzHenry resigned his commission and emigrated to Canada, where he settled at Cobble Hill, south of Duncan, on Vancouver Island. He is recorded in Imperial Vancouver Island’s Who’s Who 1850-1950 as a retired Major who contributed to a patriotic fund in November 1914; the same source states that he may have been awarded ‘another medal’ in South Africa in 1896-98, but his name does not appear under the 7th Hussars in the published roll for the British South Africa Company’s Medal.