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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 108

The campaign group of three awarded to Sergeant A. McWilliam, Gordon Highlanders, later Postman, Home Civil Service and long-time Custodian of Huntly Castle, ancestral home of the Chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85, Kirbekan (228, Pte. A. McWilliam, 1/Gord: High...); Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R. (Alexander McWilliam); Khedive's Star, dated 1884, pitting from Star, very fine (3)

Alexander McWilliam was born at Ordiquill, Aberdeenshire in 1863 and is listed as a Recruit at the 75th Regimental District Depot in 1881. He served with the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders during the Egypt and Sudan campaign, notably present at the Battle of Kirbekan on 10 February 1885. Just 'D' Company of the Battalion were present as part of the River Column, being led by Captain Ian Hamilton, and were involved in a heated but successful battle with the dervishes.

Having taken his release and returned home, McWilliam took his I.S.M. as the Postman of Huntly, Forgue & Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire (London Gazette 9 May 1924, refers). He was latterly Custodian of Huntly Castle from 1926-40, the 12th century site of the ancestral home of the Chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly. McWilliam died in February 1941 and is buried in the Huntly Cemetery.

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Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240