Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Lot 3569    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday 26 March)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Estimate $3,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,000

TRIO: New Zealand Medal 1869, undated reverse; Egypt Medal 1882-89 (1882 reverse), - clasp - Suakin 1885; Khedive's Star 1882. Dep. C. Genl F.H.Armstrong, Commst Dept. on first medal, A.C. Genl F.H. Armstrong. C. & T. S. on second medal, the last medal unnamed as issued. First medal impressed, the second medal chisel engraved. Good very fine.

Exceedingly rare grouping to a very high office for service in two significant military campaigns. The official's rank is equivalent to Colonel. These military personnel were located in all posts of the Empire, and in this case, Armstrong, 2nd in command in NZ.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 80 (lot 2110) and DNW (London) June 1997.

Francis Hugh Armstrong was born in 1840 and commissioned as Deputy Assistant Commissary General in February 1861. He saw service in the Commissariat Department in New Zealand and was based around the Auckland area. He did spend a short period of time in Taranaki and it was there, on 25 July 1866, that he married 17 year old Ellen Anne Shuttleworth. Armstrong himself was 26 at the time. Following his return to England Armstrong remained in the Commissariat Department. On 30 January 1880, whilst serving in Cyprus, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissary General in the Transport Department Staff. Armstrong saw active service with the Commissariat and Transport Staff during the Egypt Campaign of 1882 and later during the Suakin Campaign (also Egypt) in March, April and May 1885. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Service Corps on 11 December 1888 and likely spent the remainder of his career based at Gosport. He retired in 1891 or 1892 having therefore served an impressive 30 years.