Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson

A Gaika pair to Private Robert Connolly, King William’s Town Veteran Volunteers, late 32nd Light Infantry

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (Pte. R. Connolly, Kg. Wm. Tn. Vetn. Vols.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1896 Pte. R. Connolly, 32nd Foot) together with his original Army Account Book, parchment Certificate of Discharge from the 32nd L.I., and parchment certificate as an Out-Pensioner of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, good very fine (2) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson.

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Robert Connolly was born at Cabinteely, near Dublin, in May 1838. He enlisted into the 96th Regiment at Dublin on 25 July 1856, aged 18 years 3 months. His regiment landed at East London in March 1863, and Connolly remained in South Africa for the rest of his life. He transferred into the 5th Foot in December 1865, into the 11th Foot in August 1866, and into the 32nd Light Infantry on 1 June 1870. He was discharged to pension, as an Out-Pensioner of H.M. Royal Hospital, Chelsea, at King William’s Town on 31 July 1877, his discharge certificate being signed by Redvers Buller and Lt.-Col. R. H. de Montmorency. On the outbreak of the Gaika war later that year, Robert Connolly was recruited into the King William’s Town Veteran Volunteers as one of its 27 rankers, under a sergeant and an officer. Some years later, Connolly moved to East London where he worked on the Government Railway until an accident left him blind, deaf and dumb, and he was committed to Grahams Town Asylum. He was transferred to Port Alfred Asylum in April 1891, and died there on 2 September 1891.