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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 511

(x) Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration, V.R. (Paymaster & Hon. Major. A. R. McCleneghan 22nd Regiment), silver, hallmarks for London 1901, nearly extremely fine

Alexander Riggs McCleneghan was born at County Armagh, Ireland on 15 October 1823, the son of Thomas and Margret McCleneghan. His father served with the 7th Light Dragoons and emigrated with his family to Canada in 1829. During the Upper Canada Rebellion McCleneghan, a strong loyalist offered his services to Colonel Mclean and was in the advance guard during the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern in 1837. He also served on the Niagara Frontier with Colonel Chisholm the next year in 1838.

McCleneghan was educated at Toronto and served an apprenticeship in the Queen's Printing Office before becoming a reporter, establishing the Woodstock Times in 1856. Still serving with the Militia, McCleneghan offered his services to the Government during the Trent Affair in 1861 and later again during the 1866 Fenian Raid (Medal and Clasp). McCleneghan ran the Woodstock Times for several years until 1873 when he was appointed Postmaster. He raised a field company at Woodstock, Oxford, Canada and proceeded to command it for the next twenty years with the rank of Captain as part of 22nd Battalion.

Retiring with the rank of Major he died on 2 March 1904 at Ontario, Canada; sold together with copied research including census data and extracts from Men of Canada and several photographs.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£380

Starting price
£200