Description
Tibet Medal, bar Gyantse, EDVII, 6789 Private Cornelius Walker, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Cornelius Walker was born during 1880 in the parish of St George in the East, Wapping, London. The son of Richard and Catherine, part of a large Roman Catholic family.
At the age of 17, whilst working as a Labourer, he joined the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers Militia on 13th October 1897.
Once he turned 18 he quickly attested for full time service joining the Royal Fusiliers on 19th October 1898.
He saw the following service:
Home, 19th October 1898 – 22nd September 1899
Gibraltar, 23rd September 1899 – 9th January 1901
Burma and India, 10th January 19091 – 19th November 1903
India, 20th November 1903 – 25th January 1907
Home, 26th January 1907 – 18th October 1910.
His papers show he took part in the “Sikkim-Tibet Expedition of 1904” and earned the medal for the “Tibet Mission 1903-04 clasp Gyantse, 1st Feb 1905” also noting his generous bonus for the taking of Gyantse, paid “Tibet Mission Gratuity £24/-/- 1 Dec 1905”
Discharged following his 12 years of service.
Ex DNW auctions, Jack Webb Collection of Medals, 20th August 2020, hammer price inc premium £1545.
