Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. McCann, Seaforth Highlanders

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (4577 Pte. J. Mc.Cann 2d. Bn. Seaforth Highlrs.); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4577. Pte. J. Mc.Cann. 1/Sea: Hrs:); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (4577 Pte. J. Mc.Cann 1st. Sea Highrs.) Regimentally engraved naming, contact marks, nearly very fine or better (3) £400-£500

Joseph McCann was born in Shankill, Belfast, in 1872. A labourer by occupation, he attested for the Seaforth Highlanders on 2 May 1893, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Relief of Chitral in 1895. Transferring to the 1st Battalion, he served in Malta and in the occupation of Crete, April to November 1897, before seeing active service in the Sudanese campaign. After serving over two years in Egypt, he transferred back to the 2nd Battalion and served in South Africa during the Boer War from April 1900 to August 1901 (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps). Invalided back to the U.K., he continued to serve until finally being discharged May 1905 in the rank of Corporal, after 12 years’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, McCann re-enlisted into the 10th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles on 21 October 1914 and was immediately promoted Corporal and Lance-Sergeant on the same day. He did not serve overseas and was invalided out of the service due to chronic dysentery on 21 April 1915.

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