Description
Egypt Medal, undated, 2 bars, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85, 1080 Private James Williamson, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
A most unusual instance of a young Scotsman who first served in the Gordon Highlanders in the Egyptian War of 1884-6, who went on to be a loyal long serving Regiment Sergeant Major of the King’s Own Scottish Borderer’s and earned a Commission as Lieutenant after 30 years since he first joined the Army.
Officially engraved: “1080 Pte J. Williamson, 1/Gord Highrs” Some pitting and general wear over a long career spanning over 30 years.
James Williamson was born during 1864 in Markinch, Fife, Scotland.
At the age of 19 during the short break between the 1882 War in Egypt and upcoming campaign in Sudan during 1884, he attested for service on 23rd July 1883.
He would see the following service, including participation in the Eastern Sudan Campaign of 1884 and with the Nile Expeditionary Force from 1884-5:
Home, from 23rd July 1883, Egypt from 19th Dec 1883
Eastern Soudan, from 18th February 1884
Egypt from 1st April 1884
Upper Egypt from 6th November 1884
Egypt from 1st July 1885
Malta, from 9th September 1885.
Discharged at Malta on 21st February 1888, “In consequence of his own request on payment of £18.”
However his service was not over, he paid a large sum to end his service early after about 5 years, but after returning to civil life working as a Telegraphist, he attested once again for service aged 24 on 26th February 1890, now joining the King’s Own Scottish Borderers as 3441.
It was stated on his papers he had “Highlanders” tattoo across his right forearm.
He saw further service:
At home from 25th February 1890 to 3rd January 1900, during this time, promoted Lance Corporal, 1891, Lance Sergeant, 1893, Sergeant 1895, Colour Sergeant from 1898.
South Africa, from 4th January 1900 until 18th November 1900, service in the Boer War as Colour Sergeant.
At Home, 19th November 1900 until 24th November 1910.
For his service in the Boer War, he earned a Queen’s South Africa Medal, with 2 bars for Cape Colony and Paardeberg. During this time he was serving as Colour Sergeant to 1st KOSB.
During this time he was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in A.O. 254 of 1908.
On 10th October 1903 he had been promoted to Warrant Officer Rank and was appointed as Sergeant Major of 3rd Battalion K.O.S.B.
Discharged following 20 years 273 days of service, having held the rank of Sergeant Major for 7 years.
A letter in his discharge papers, which were effected by a fire reads:
“I am directed to request that you will be so good enough to prepare fresh Discharge Documents of Lieut J. Williamson, formerly no 3441 Regimental Sergeant Major James Williamson, 3rd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers as soon as possible to replace those lost by fire and forward them to this department, dated February 1918”
