AN INTERESTING EGYPT MEDAL (The Nile 1884-85) & KHEDIVES STAR (1884-86) PAIR.
To:
1393. Pte. J. Gray 1st Royal Irish Regiment.
An alcoholic man with a shocking medical history.

EGYPT MEDAL (THE NILE 1884-85)
1393. Pte. J. Gray 1/Rl. IR: REGt.

KHEDIVE'S STAR (1884-86)
Un-named as issued.

[BIOGRAPHY]
John Gray was born in Killabin, Athy, Ireland in 1848. Having previously worked as a labourer, he joined the 1st Royal Irish Regiment on 7th November 1866 at age 18. He was a single man of 5ft 6" with grey eyes, fair complexion & red hair. He first served in Afghanistan and is also entitled to an Afghan medal.

John Gray suffered from very poor health and endured the following conditions.
Primary & Secondary Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Scabies, Psoriasis, Diarrhoea, Ague, Scarlet Fever, Februcula, Dysentery, Rheumatism, Inflammation of the glands and Herpes.

He was also a diagnosed alcoholic and developed permanent unfitness as a result. As is almost always the case with a severe case of unresolved alcoholism he eventually developed Dementia (today, loosely called 'wet brain') and was discharged as permanently unfit on 3rd January 1886.....he was aged just 38.

An interesting, very scarce & desirable Irish pair in EF with full colour service & medical history papers and sold together with the WW1 silver war badge No.B233886 to his son, Pte Joseph Gray of the R.A.M.C. (3 General Hospital) who, being an ultra early entrant on 15th August 1914 is entitled to a 1914 star trio.

£495.00