Description
Khedive’s Sudan Medal, 2 bars, The Atbara, Khartoum, 2880 Private Hugh Devlin, 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders.
Officially engraved: “2880 Pte Devlin 1 Cam Highrs”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
Hugh Devlin was born during 1870 in Kirkliston, West Lothian, now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland.
He attested for service with the Cameron Highlanders aged 22 on 13th January 1892 having worked as a Miner.
He saw the following postings:
Home, 13th jan 1892 – 8th April 1892
Malta, 9th April 1892 – 18th Feb 1895
Gibraltar, 19th Feb 1895 – 3rd October 1897
Egypt, 4th October 1897 – 2nd March 1900
South Africa, 3rd March 1900 – 30th July 1902
Home, 31st July 1902 – 30th March 1903
Army Reserve, 31st March 1903 – 12th January 1908.
His papers recall his campaigns as: “Nile Expedition 1898, Battles of the Atbara and Khartoum
South Africa 1900-1, Battles of Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen.”
And state his medal entitlement as: “Khedives Egyptian Soudan Medal and Clasps The Atbara and Khartoum, Sudan Medal (Queens). South African clasps Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Cape Colony. The Kings SA Medal and clasps SA 1901 & SA 1902”.
The papers also note various entries for a court of enquiry into an injury he sustained in 1893, when he was kicking around a football in the barracks, leading to a slip and fall spraining his elbow.
They also have another court of enquiry from when he was assaulted during 1897:
“No 2880 Pte H Devlin, 1st Bn Cam Highrs who stated he was returning from town on the 20th February 1897 and when I was going up Hospital Hill I was suddenly attacked from behind by 6 men of the S.W. Borderers and was knocked down and received a bruise on the side of my jaw. The Station Hospital Guard came to my assistance and I was admitted to Hospital the following day. I was sober at the time.
A witness states: “No 3540 Pte W Strachan, 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders, being examined states:
I was returning to barracks and coming up the hospital hill and I saw Private Devlin returning home when two or three of the South Wales Borderers came out of a Public House and attacked Pte Devlin, and knocked him down and kicked him. I assisted as escort to confine the men of the S.W. Borderers.
