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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 385

Four: Private J. Gibbs, 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (B/634. Pte. J. Gibbs. 66th Foot.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (B 634 Private John Gibbs 66th Foot); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89 (41/634, Pte. J. Gibbs, 1/Ber****R.); Khedive's Star 1882 (1 Bks. 634 J. G ), mounted for wear, contact wear partially obscures naming on one medal, pitting from Star, edge wear and edge knocks, nearly very fine and better (4)

John Gibbs was born in 1852 in Hungerford, Berkshire and worked as a plasterer prior to attesting for the 41st Brigade at Aldershot on 30 August 1877 when he was twenty-four years old. He was posted to India and Afghanistan with his Regiment from March 1879. He was with the 66th Foot when they marched to Kandahar from Sibi in early 1880, and was also part of the detachment of 'A' and 'E' companies that did not participate in the Battle of Maiwand and were instead sent to Kalat-i-Ghilzai. The detachment was present at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, and departed for India the following month.

Gibbs returned to England accompanied by his Regiment in February 1881. After spending some time at Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, likely in the military barracks there, the 1881 census records Smith as living with his family in Hungerford in March. Gibbs was not to remain at home long, however, and was stationed in Gibraltar from late September 1881 and from there was sent to Egypt in July 1882. The following month the Berkshires found themselves in a diversionary action at Kafr-ed-Daur on 21 August. Gibbs remained in Egypt for much of the next year until being posted again to Gibraltar, where he disembarked on 12 May 1883. He was then in the Army Reserve from October 1883 until rejoining the Berkshire Regiment under new service number 1227.

Gibbs was again stationed in Egypt, arriving there on 5 October 1885 with his unit and advancing to Wadi Halfa in Sudan the following month. In December, they further advanced to Kosheh and participated in the Battle of Ginnis which saw the defeat of the Dervishes. The battle marked the last time that the Berkshires appeared dressed in red.

Gibbs was later discharged on 28 September 1889, with his conduct cited as 'indifferent/bad' - likely in consequence of his long periods of imprisonment (totalling over two years) for drunkenness, being absent without leave, striking a superior officer, using improper language, and breaking out of the barracks; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£580

Starting price
£280