Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-1889. With dated reverse '1882' & clasp 'Tel-el-Kebir' (507. Pte. J. Kenna. 1/Sea: Highrs:)

Medal verification: Private James Kenna, is confirmed entitled to the medal with clasp, per the respective campaign medal roll of 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, reference WO 100/59. In addition to the Egypt Medal & clasp , plus entitlement to the Khedival Star dated 1882, James had earlier, in, 1880, had taken part in the historic 'Kabul to Kandahar ' forced march, and fought the Afghan's at the Battle of Kandahar, for which services with the then 72nd (Duke of Albany's) Highlanders, he had been awarded an Afghan War Medal with clasp 'Kandahar' & a Kabul to Kandahar Star, reference the respective campaign medal roll of the 72nd Highlanders reference WO 100/52

Note: The recipients Afghan Medal is known to be extant and is recorded as having been sold by 'Bloomsbury Auctions' in 2005

Reference 'The Campaign of 1882 in Egypt' (Maurice, 1887), the embarkation strength of 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders that embarked at Aden Colony for Egypt (where the regiment disembarked 8 August 1882, was; 24 x Officers, 2 x Warrant Officers & 601 x NCO's & Other Ranks. The battalion was present with the 'Indian Contingent' and fought at the great desert victory at Tel-el-Kebir (13/09/1882, where they suffered 4 x casualties amongst the 'Other Ranks', comprising 1 x 'Killed-in-Actio'n & 3 x 'Wounded-in-Action'

James Kenna, son of Irish immigrants, was a native of the parish of, Springburn, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1858. By trade a 'Quarry Labourer', James, who claimed to be 19 years & 8 months of age, enlisted for the British Army at, Irvine, Scotland, on, 25 July 1879, on which date he was posted to the Depot of the 58th Brigade for his basic training. He was, however, no stranger to military drill as he cited prior service as a 'Volunteer' with the Royal Renfrew Militia. On 22 December 1879, he was posted to the 72nd Highlanders (then serving on active service in Afghanistan) and embarked for overseas service to India. His extant service papers show that his notified next of kin was named as, Margaret Kenna, Pollockshaws, Glasgow

Immediately after arrival in British India, James and his reinforcement draft were immediately sent to Afghanistan, where he took part in the historic 'Kabul to Kandahar' forced march, following which he took part in the Battle of Kandahar. On 1st July 1882, James is confirmed as an original member on the first muster roll of the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, which regiment had been established on that date - in India - by the amalgamation of the former 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) Regiment of Foot with the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot (Ross-shire Buffs), to form the new regiment 'The Seaforth Highlanders' (Ross-shire Buffs, Duke of Albany's). The hitherto 72 / 78th regiments of foot became the respective 1st & 2nd battalions of the Seaforth Highlanders

James Kenna took his final discharge from the British Army, at Parkhurt, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England, on, 5 June 1883 , in consequence of being found unfit for further military service. In total he had served 3 years & 316 days 'With the Colours', including overseas deployments in below locations:

- India (including Afghanistan): 22/12/1879-01/08/1882 (2 years 233 days)
- Egypt: 02/08/1882-01/11/1882 (92 days)

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

The medal, uncommonly, for an Egypt Medal, is in choice condition, and desirable thus

Condition: About EF

Code: 22391