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Auction: 13001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 144

Military General Service 1793-1814, one clasp, Egypt (M. Munro, 42nd. Foot), minor edge knock and bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine

Private Murdoch Munro, born Dingwall, Ross-shire 1757; enlisted in the 42nd Highlanders, March 1785; served with the Regiment during operations on and off the coast of Egypt 1801- the Black Watch were part of the initial assault force and had to withstand both an infantry and a cavalry attack soon after going ashore: ´Battalions that were exposed to the attack of the French cavalry suffered terribly. Among these the 42nd stands pre-eminent for a gallantry and steadfastness which would be difficult to match in the history of any army. The battalion had embarked about 800 strong. It lost 8 officers and 169 men in the disembarkation of the 8th March; three Officers and 13 men on the 13th; and 4 Officers and 48 men killed, and 8 Officers and 253 men wounded on the 21st March. And these losses were not those of rout and demoralisation, but of persistent and victorious fighting; for the regiment repulsed two attacks of infantry and though broken by two furious charges of Roize´s cavalry, took a principal part in the annihilation of those rash and daring horsemen´ (Fortescue refers). The Regiment as a whole suffered a total casualty rate of 63% during the campaign, by far the greatest of all the British troops involved; Munro was wounded in the shoulder, 21.3.1801, and subsequently transferred to the Edinburgh Invalids as a result of his wounds, March 1802; transferred 6th Battalion, Royal Veteran Regiment, December 1802; finally discharged, August 1812, after 27 years and 145 days with the Colours. Private Munro received his M.G.S. in 1850 at the age of 92.

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£3,800