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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 99

The Canada General Service Medal awarded to Colonel E. Clayton, Royal Artillery, who was later Professor of Fortification and Artillery at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Lieut: E. Clayton. R.A.), engraved, good very fine

Emelius Clayton was born on 17 October 1842 and was first appointed a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 1 July 1861, serving with H Battery, 4th Brigade in Canada. Clayton became a professor at the Royal Military Academy from 18 March 1874 before becoming British Vice-Consul of Asia Minor on 12 May 1879, in which capacity he served until 15 February 1882. He was appointed Vice-Consul at Van, where he took up his appointment in July 1879; Ottoman objections to Clayton having a wider remit over the whole of Kurdistan meant that his responsibility was limited to the province of Van. He excavated on behalf of Hormuzd Rassam (q.v.) with Mr Raynolds (q.v.) at the Urartian city-site of Van in eastern Turkey in 1879-80. Correspondence from Clayton to A.H. Layard (q.v.) dated 11 May 1880 details the position of his excavations and some of the principal finds.

During those appointments, Clayton was promoted Captain on 10 October 1874, Brevet Major on 1 July 1881, and Brevet Major Royal Artillery on 29 October 1881. He then became Professor of Fortification and Artillery at Sandhurst on 31 July 1883. Clayton was granted the rank of Substantive Colonel on 7 June 1896 and Colonel Staff Royal Artillery on 17 October 1898. His Canada General Service Medal was sent to him at The Castle, Dover, Kent and the roll from the Medal Claim Board is stamped for 6 September 1899, specifically stating 'To be engraved in England'.

Clayton published two articles following his experiences at Van: "The Mountains of Kurdistan", 'Alpine Journal' [London], 13 (1887), pp. 293-300; "Consular experiences in Turkey", 'Proceedings of the Royal Artillery Institution' 24 (1897).

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Sold for
£800

Starting price
£500