Egypt & Sudan Medal 1882-1889. Reverse dated '1882' with 2 x clasps 'Tel-el-Kebir' & 'Suakin 1885' (2126 Pte T. Cushing. C. & T. C.)

Recipient was a veteran of the Zulu War!

Note: The medal is officially impressed and is an unmarked replacement / duplicate medal issued to the recipient on, 26 April 1917 - contrary to the misinformation in 'British Battles & Medals' (7th edition, 2007) official replacement medals for the 1882 Egypt campaign could be issued with the date '1882'

Medal and clasps verification: The medal and both clasps confirmed per the respective campaign medal roll of the Commissariat & Transport Corps, reference WO 100/67, wherein the recipient is recorded to have been serving with the 12th Service Company C & T C, ad that he had taken his discharge from the British Army on, 29 June 1887. His intended place of residence being, 40 Samuel Street, Woolwich. The medal rolls are annotated to show that a replacement medal & clasps was issued to the recipient on, 26 April 1917. Private Cushing had earlier also qualified and received a South Africa Medal for the 'Zulu War' with clasp '1879' (reference WO 100/47), and which medal roll is also marked to show, that like the Egypt Medal, an official duplicate medal for the 'Zulu War' was also issued to the veteran on 26 April 1917

Thomas Cushing, son of Thomas Cushing (a former Sergeant of the 48th Foot, later Permanent Staff of the 5th Middlesex Militia, and sometime Beer Shop Keeper) was a native of Athlone, Co Roscommon, Ireland, where he was born in 1850. By 1851, the family had relocated to England, and by the time of the 1861 National Census, were living in Twickenham. Middlesex, England, where the father was employed as a 'Beer Shop Keeper', and at which time the family comprised the parents, Thomas - the eldest son - and 2 x younger brothers, vis James & Robert (later a Sergeant Major in the Army Service Corps) together with a younger sister, Mary A. Cushing. Thomas Cushing was 20 years of age, and by trade a 'Groom' when he enlisted in the British Army at, Westminster, London, England, on, 16 August 1870, and on the next day was posted to the Army Service Corps. In total Thomas went on to serve for 16 years & 317 days with the British Army, including active overseas service below:

- South Africa (Zululand): 25/02/1879 - 18/03/1880
- Egypt Expeditionary Force: 04/08/1882 - 16/03/1883
- Egypt & Sudan: 17/02/1885 - 06/08/1885

Thomas took his final discharge from the British Army on, 29 June 1887, in consequence of being found to be medically unfit for further service. He took his discharge at Dublin, in his native Ireland, where he appears to have married and was still recorded as being resident in 1904. The 'Workhouse' relief records for Dublin, in 1904, record, Thomas formerly residing at 1 Angle Court, Bersesford Street, Dublin, and described as a 'Protestant' widower, 'Groom /Pensioner', having been admitted to the 'Workhouse' on, 4 February 1904. He is shown as receiving a pension of 1 shilling a day, and that he was formerly 'Army Service'. Thomas was discharged from the Workhouse on, 31 March 1904. Fortunately, he appears to have avoided any further visits to the Workhouse. Presumably he was still alive in 1917, to be able to receive his replacement war medals.

The recipients service papers are extant and are held & accessible at The National Archives

In uncommonly unblemished condition for an Egypt Medal

Condition: GVF

Code: 22231