Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine campaign and M.S.M. group of six awarded to Colour-Sergeant Henry Randoll, 2nd Regiment and later Yeoman of the Guard

Jubilee 1897, bronze; Coronation 1902, bronze; South Africa 1834-53 (Serjt. H. Randal. 2nd Regt.); China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (2191 Color Serjt. Henry Randell 1st Battn. 2nd Foot); Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Clr. Serjt. H. Randoll. 1/2nd Foot.) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (6) £700-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Yeomen of the Guard formed by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Denny.

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Henry Randoll was born at Broadchalk, Salisbury, Wiltshire, and attested for the 2nd Regiment at Winchester on 25 May 1846, aged 17, a servant by trade. He served overseas at the Cape of Good Hope for 8 years 6 months and in China for 7 months. The regiment embarked from Ireland to the Cape of Good Hope in June 1851, on board the ill-fated Birkenhead, the Cyclops and the Sumner. The 2nd Foot formed part of the expedition against Kreli in January 1852, and stayed at the Cape until embarking for China in 1860. His L.S. & G.C. medal was awarded in 1866 and he was discharged to pension in June 1868.

He was appointed a Yeoman of the Guard on 24 November 1878, and was present at the inspections by the Crown Prince of Sweden in June 1879, and by Major-General Sir Garnet Wolseley in June 1880. In 1891 he was present at the inspection by Kaisar Wilhelm. By 1901 he was a Sergeant-Major in the Fourth Division and he was awarded the M.S.M. on 1 May 1907, without annuity, as a Sergeant-Major Yeoman. He died on 25 January 1910, when he had a total combined service in uniform of 53 years and three months.

Note: The China medal would have originally been issued with impressed naming and when the group was formerly in the George Moss Collection it was described as having a bronze Jubilee 1887 with 1897 clasp. It is probable, therefore, that these two medals have been added to the group at some point.