A remarkable and rare Canada Red River 1870, South Africa 1879 and Egypt 1882, Battle fo Tel-El-Kebir group of four to Private Daniel Lamb, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, whose most unusual combination of awards was only made possible by transferring from the 1st Battalion into the 3rd Battalion on his return from Canada in 1878, in time for him to embark for South Africa with the 3rd Battalion and see subsequent service in Egypt.
Group of 4: Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Red River 1870 (794. Private D. Lamb 1/60th Sgt.), typical Canadian style impressed naming; South Africa Medal 1877-79, clasp 1879 (3611. PTE. D. LAMB, 3/60th FOOT): Egypt & Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (794 PTE. D. LAMB, 3/K.R. RIF. C.); KHEDIVE’S STAR 1882, mounted for display.
Condition: Light pitting from star, otherwise Good Very Fine and Rare.
Provenance: DNW 19 Jul 2018, lot 705
David Lamb was born in the parish of Wallingford, Berkshire, and attested for the 60th Foot at Reading on 18 May 1860, aged 18. He joined the 1st Battalion and with this battalion served in Malta from March 1866 til Sept 1867, then embarked for Canada on 1 Oct 1867. He is confirmed as having been present with his regiment during the Red River Expedition of 1870.
Lamb returned home in 2 Jan 1877 and on 10 Feb 1879 he transferred into the 3rd Battalion. Ten days later he embarked with the 3rd Battalion for South Africa and is confirmed as having been engaged in operations against the Zulus. His next campaign service was in Egypt from 23 Feb 1882 un til 31 Aug 1884, being present during the actions at El Ten and Tamaai. He was discharged from the Army on 11 Nov 1890, having served 30 years, 178 days. Good conduct pay was regularly forfeited throughout his service and as a result he did not receive a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
The number change seen on the medals is verified in Lamb’s service records and this group is confirmed as his complete entitlement.
