Canada General Service Medal clasp Fenian Raid 1866 & VR LSGC Pair to 394 Gnr J Biddle 10th Brigade RA

[azyeoman]

Canada General Service Medal clasp Fenian Raid 1866
394 Gnr J Biddle 10th Brigade RA
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Army Victoria
394 Gunner J Biddle 10th Bde RA

With details here extracted from his on-line service record TNA WO97/1768 filed under his Coastal Brigade RA number 6288 and other on-line records.
The Canada General Service Medal and Long Service and Good Conduct Medal both officially impressed naming.

John Biddle was born in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire in 1838 a Laborer, he attested for the Royal Artillery age 19 years on 1st December 1858 joining the 3rd Battalion Royal Artillery as Gunner. Transferring to the 10th Brigade 14th December 1858 and finally to the Coastal Brigade Royal Artillery 1st July 1877 serving in the forts around Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight until his discharge 18th May 1880 having completed 21 years and 170 days service. John served overseas in St John’s, New Brunswick 19th December 1861 to 3rd February 1862, Canada 4th February 1862 to 30th July 1867 and Malta 31st July 1867 to 7th November 1873. Awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with a £5 Gratuity in 1877 TNA WO102/13/1 refers, he was awarded the Canada General Service Medal clasp Fenian Raid for service with No 4 Battery, 10th Brigade Royal Artillery TNA WO100/110 Part 2 pages 19 and 194 refers, the Medal being sent to his home address 6 Horn Street, Sandgate, Kent. John served his entire service as a Gunner and was awarded his Fifth Good Conduct Badge 1st December 1879, a Very Good soldier he was never tried by Court Martial and was never entered in the Regimental Defaulter’s Book, he did not hold an Army Education Certificate. Awarded a pension on discharge of 18 shillings and 5 pence per week. John was admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea as an in-pensioner 27th October 1904, he stated his age as 64 years 11 months and previous address as 6 Horn Street, Shorncliffe Camp TNA WO23/178 refers. He was still alive in 1925 when his pension was increased for the last time.

 

I can't find anything on what the 10th Bde RA did in Canada and any insight and information would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance. J

Edited April 4, 2024 by azyeoman

[Rusty Greaves]

The most recent Liverpool Medals catalogue has a Canada General Service Medal, clasp Fenian Raid 1866, 969 Private Thomas Christian Herbert, 2nd Bn 17th Leicestershire Regiment in its listings (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/canada-fenian-raid-17th-leicester-regt). The photos are high-resolution. Unfortunately, it does not answer your question azyeoman about the 10th Bde RA. 

 

 

The description of the medal reads:

 

"Canada General Service Medal, bar Fenian Raid 1866, 969 Private T.C. Herbert, 2nd Bn 17th Leicestershire Regiment, Rare British Regiment issue, stayed in Canada after the war before returning to Leicester in later life.

 

Officially Engraved: “969 Pte T.C. Herbert. 2/17 Leic R.”

 

Typical “Engraved in England” example, upright engraving style as seen on British produced and named examples.

 

Confirmed on the medal roll. Which recalls the medals being authorised in August 1899, his entry noting his issue address as “2 Rutland Terrace, Grange Lance, Leicester”

 

Crisp unworn condition and issued not long before his death in 1903.

 

Thomas Christian Herbert was born circa 1843.

The son of John Christian Herbert and Sarah.

 

Shown on the 1861 Army Census as on duty with the 2nd 17th Foot at Shorncliffe Dublin and Curragh. At this time he would be newly enlisted about 18 years old.

 

The 2nd Battalion had been recently formed back in 1858, and the battalion was posted overseas for service in Canada “British North America” being stationed there during the Fenian Raids.

 

The 2nd 17th would return back home in 1868, but Pte Herbert stayed in the country. Pte Herbert is not on the 1871 Army Index (or any further army records) suggesting that he took the opportunity to take his discharge from the Army to remain in Canada.

 

He is next seen in 1872, on local marriage records living in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario.

 

On 4th July 1872 Thomas married Bridget Fawell, a lady living in Kingston, the daughter of Darby and Bridget Fawell.

 

The records recall he was no longer a serving soldier and now worked as a “Labourer”.

 

Thomas looks to have in later life returned back home to Leicestershire, receiving his long deserved medal once it was finally issued about 1899-1900 living in Leicester.

 

He died during March 1903 in Leicestershire."

Edited January 30 by Rusty Greaves