Pair: Driver W. Grigglestone, Royal Horse Artillery Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated revers...

Pair: Driver W. Grigglestone, Royal Horse Artillery Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (2272. Driv. W. Grigglestone. N/A. R.H.A.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (2) £120-£160 --- William Grigglestone was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1852. His family later moved to Norwich where his father took employment as a brewer’s labourer. Joining the Royal Horse Artillery as soon as practicable, Grigglestone is recorded in 1871 as serving as a Driver in the Royal Horse Artillery and stationed at Great Brook Street Cavalry Barracks, Aston, Warwickshire. Embarking with N/A. Battery, Royal Horse Artillery aboard the transport Tower Hill, Grigglestone arrived in Alexandria on 16 August 1882 and was soon involved in seizing railway lines and the canal as far as Kassassin Lock. Advancing to Magfar, Grigglestone witnessed his first engagement of the campaign on 24 August 1882 near Tel-El-Mahuta where two guns under the command of Lieutenant Hickman distinguished themselves on the banks of the Sweet Water Canal. According to The Times newspaper of January 1883: ‘This infinitesimal detachment of English artillery held at bay the 12 Egyptian guns, and were reported by Lord Wolseley as having repulsed infantry attacks both in front and on the flanks during the day. The good stuff of which the men were composed was shown by the fact that, when exhausted by their labours under the awful heat of the sun above and its reflection from the sand, they had water poured on their heads and again faced the enemy.’ Engaged further at Tel-el-Kebir - where N/A. Battery fired 88 rounds - Grigglestone survived the conflict and returned home to Norwich, later taking employment as a railway porter. He died in 1914. Sold with copied research.