Description
India General Service Medal 1854, bar Hazara 1888, Lieut Joseph Smythe Egginton, 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment, rare officer’s medal for the Black Mountain Expedition.
“He was one of the most genial of men, and all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance must have admired his cheerfulness of spirit, the tact with which he managed his volunteer duties, and the energy which he threw into his work.”
“In India, he served through the Black Mountain Expedition and was awarded a medal and clasp, and was also mentioned in despatches for gallantry.”
Officially engraved in running script: “Lt J. S. Egginton 2d Bn R. Suss. R.”
On original silk ribbon and wearing pin, excellent preserved condition due to his unfortunate early death.
With some copy photographs of the recipient (They are in black and white and sepia, I have had some colourised for the listing)
His length Obituary detailing his life was put in the Derby Mercury, 12th May 1897:
DEATH OF CAPTAIN EGGINTON
We recorded last week the death of Captain Joseph Smythe Egginton, Adjutant of the 1st Volunteer Battalion Derbyshire Regiment, which took place at his resident, at Duffield, on Monday week.
The deceased was taken ill in January last upon returning home from a leave of absence, and Dr Gentles, his medical advisor, hoped that a change of air to Hastings would act as a restorative. But Captain Egginton never recovered sufficient strength to travel, and peritonitus and consumption having developed, he gradually sank.
He was the eldest of the late Mr J Smythe Egginton, JP DL of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, and was born in 1860.
He was educated at Winchester under the Bishop of Southwell, and when the Bishop of Derby was one of the masters.
He was connected with the School Cadet Corps, which he joined in 1877, and then passed through the Hampshire Militia to the Royal Sussex Regiment, which he joined in 1881.
He was engaged with his battalion in Ireland during the Plan of Campaign troubles. At the outbreak of the Egyptian War his battalion was drafted out to Malta, but took no active part in the hostilities.
In India, however, he served through the Black Mountain Expedition and was also mentioned in despatches for gallantry.
He got his company in 1890, and was gazetted adjutant of the Derby Volunteers in 1892, so that his period of office would have expired in a few months time.
He was one of the most genial of men, and all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance must have admired his cheerfulness of spirit, the tact with which he managed his volunteer duties, and the energy which he threw into his work.
The funeral took place on Thursday at Kirk Ella, Yorkshire. The Body was placed in a hearse at the residence of the deceased at Duffield, and brought by road to Derby, where at the entrance of the town, it was met by Colonel Gascoyne and a body of officers, NCO and privates of the battalion to which the deceased was attached.
The procession was formed as follows:- The pallbearers, Capts Wheeldon, Woodforde, Mosley, Hunter, Whiston and Wykes; the Bearers, Sergt Instructors Behenna, McCarthy, Neville, Nichols, Donaghue, and MacMillan; Sergeant-Major Woodward;
The Hearse carriage containing Mr Egginton, the deceased Brother, and members of his household, the carriage of Colonel Gascoyne, about 150 non-com officers and privates, and Colonel Gascoyne, Lieut Col Mayhew, Brigade Surgeon Lieut Col Gentles, Major Tyrwhitt-Walker (adjutant of the 2nd Vol Bn), Major Wright Bemrose, Lieuts Pinder, Newbold, Haslam, and Wilson and Surg Lt Johnson, and Mr FCE Leech.
The escort proceeded in this order through the town to the Midland Railway Station yard, where also were present Colonel Sparkes, commanding the Regimental District, Colonel Ireland, Major Godley, and Captain Porter, of the Sherwood Foresters, and Lieut Col Thomson, of the Royal Sussex Regiment.
The Officers saluted as the body was carried from the hearse to a Midland Railway Van, and the escort then marched to the Railway platform and awaited the arrival of the 10.10 Yorkshire Train, to which the van was attached. As this steamed out of the station the men and officers stood to attention, Colonel Gascoyne saluted, and the ceremony concluded.
Wreaths were sent out by Colonel Gascoyne and the Officers, by the non-commissioned officers, and by the various companies. Mr T. Lloyd was the undertake, and personally superintended the arrangements.”
Born on 22nd September 1880, the son of Joseph Smythe Egginton, a Yorkshireman and Officer in the 1st Dragoon Guards.
The Eggintons of Derbyshire are an ancient family from the region, and his father bore the Arms and Crest of the Eggintons as an “Armorial Family” notes in Encyclopaedia Heraldica, he was only one of a long line of Joseph Smythe Eggintons.
