Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 2nd issue, large letter reverse (John MacKay 2d Regt.) engraved naming, light contact marks, otherwise very fine £120-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Nicholson Collection of medals to men who fought in the Kaffir Wars of 1834-53.

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John MacKay was born in the Parish of Songue, near Dornock, County Sutherland, and attested for the 78th Foot at Thurso on 16 April 1833, aged 18. He transferred to the 2nd Foot as a Private on 1 November 1848, and was discharged at Chatham on 4 August 1857, in consequence of being ‘worn out & unfit for active duty. He was with his Regt. [78th] three years in India and has been with the 2nd Queen’s since the Regt. landed at the Cape in 1851 and was with the Regt. throughout the War in 1851-52 and 53.’ He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal with £5 gratuity. Sold with a 2nd Foot pewter tunic button salvaged from the wreck of the Birkenhead and copied discharge papers.