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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 358

The campaign group of four awarded to Private R. H. Cottingham, 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, late Shropshire Light Infantry and 53rd Regiment of Foot, quite likely the last survivor of the old 53rd Foot, having enlisted as a Boy before 1882 before joining the 'Old and Bold'

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (2464 Pte. R. Cottingham, 2nd Shropshire Lt. Inf.); 1914-15 Star (12924 Pte R. H. Cottingham. R.Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (GS-12924 Pte. R. H. Cottingham. R.Fus.), light contact marks, very fine overall (4)

Robert Henry Cottingham was born at King William's Town, Cape of Good Hope in November 1866, the son of Private Joseph Cottingham, an Indian Mutiny Veteran. The younger Cottingham was educated at The Royal Hibernian School, Dublin. Enlisting with the 53rd Regiment of Foot on 8 December 1880 as Bugler he was present in Dublin when Britain and Ireland were rocked by the Pheonix Park Murders, a letter written to the Regimental Journal in 1948 states:

'While we were in Dublin, Lord Cavendish and Mr. Burke were assassinated. I remember it well it was early in May, 1882, I was going to my old school on a visit, but when I got to Pheonix Park, I was turned back and told to get back to barracks.'

Posted with the Regiment to Egypt on 21 August 1882 Cottingham served with the Battalion as they guarded Alexandria, not seeing service during the Battle of Tel-El-Kebir. Later posted to Malta and Hong Kong he saw service in Suakin before returning to Britain and was discharged on 26 October 1892.

Enlisting with the 4th (Volunteer) Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry at Hereford in 1896, mobilised for service in the Anglo-Boer War. The Battalion saw heavy action at the Battle of Paardeberg, later Cottingham was posted to the 4th Mounted Infantry. Returning to Britain after the war he joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry on 18 April 1903, being discharged in 1907.

Upon the outbreak of the Great War Cottingham was 48 years old, despite this he volunteered for the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Entering the war in East Africa on 4 April 1915 with this unit he was doubtless present for many of their famous actions during the war. He was finally discharged as a result of sickness on 14 August 1917, but remained a regular presence in the Regimental Association.

In April 1948, just ten years before his death, Cottingham wrote a letter to the Regimental Journal detailing his experiences over the course of his long career, he signed of memorably:

'I was 48 years old when I joined up in 1914. I am now 81, and still NOT OUT'

Sold together with copied research.

Further entitled to the Egypt Medal with Suakin clasp and Khedive's Star.

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Sold for
£280

Starting price
£110