Egypt Medal 1882. With dated 1882 reverse and clasp 'Tel-el-Kebir' (1130 Pte. R. Ronaldson. 1/Cam'n Highrs:)

Killed in horrific railway accident, Rutherglen, Train Station, Scotland: On, 9 July 1898, Richard Ronaldson - who had been hauled out of a railway carriage by a railway employee of the Caledonian Railway Company - fell between a carriage in motion and a railway platform. His legs were severed, and he died of mortal wounds within an hour of the accident

Medal & clasp verification: Private Richard Ronaldson is confirmed entitled to the Egypt Medal with reverse date 1882 medal & clasp 'Tel-el-Kebir', per the respective medal roll of the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (reference WO 100/59) that was compiled and signed at The Citadel, Cairo, Egypt, on 8 November 1882. Supplementary pages (signed at The Citadel, Cairo, on, 26 March 1883, additionally confirm that the recipient was entitled to the Khedival Star with obverse date 1882

Cameron's at Tel-el-Kebir: The 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders were in the thick of the fighting during the great 'Desert Victory' of Tel-el-Kebir, 13 September 1882, where the Jock's of the Cameron's - together with the other Highlander Regiments of the Highland Brigade, won a hard-fought battle against the Egyptian troops of Arabi-Pasha. At Tel-el-Kebir, the Cameron Highlanders, suffered 17 other ranks killed or mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 44 other ranks wounded

Richard Ronaldson born circa 1858, was a native of Inveresk, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He attested for service with the British Army at Edinburgh on 28 March 1877. At time of his enlistment, he claimed to be 18 years and 10 months of age, and a 'Collier' by occupation. Apart from the period 25 July 1877 through to 15 September 1880, when he was transferred to the the 42nd Royal Highlanders (Black Watch), he served the rest of his time with 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders. His service and postings comprised:

- Home: 28 March 1877 to 25 July 1877
- Mediterranean: 26 July 1877 to 18 June 1879
- Home: 19 June 1879 to 14 September 1880
- Gibraltar: 15 September 1880 to 6 August 1882
- Egypt: 7 August 1882 to 30 June 1883
- Home: 30 June 1883 to 27 March 1889

The above details extrapolated from the recipient's extant service papers held 7 accessible in the WO97 file series at The National Archives

After taking his discharge from the Regular Army, Richard Ronaldson, returned to Scotland, where he resided with his family at Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, where he resumed his civilian trade as a 'Coillery Worker'. Richard also enlisted in his local 'Militia Battalion', viz 4th (Militia) Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. On 9 July 1898, Richard died in a horrific railway accident that was widely reported in the Scottish press, reference the Daily Record issue of 11 July 1898, for an article. Richard's widow, Mrs Jessie Ronaldson, subsequently successfully sued the Caldeonian Railway Company, for damages for the loss of the principal pursuers husband - two railway employees had been hauling Richard off the moving train at the time of the accident - and won a claim of GBP 200 plus expenses, that was settled out of court (see The Scotsman issue of, 20 January 1899)

Note Richard Ronaldson was twice married (his first wife died) and he left 5 x children (3 x daughters & 2 x sons) with his second wife. His youngest son, William Rendall Ronaldson (1896-1918) was 'Killed-in-Action', in France on, 14 September 1918, while serving as a Private soldier with the 7th Battalion Scottish Rifles

Sold together with a hard-copy set of service papers

Condition: Minor pitting otherwise about VF

Code: 22006