Full medal write up
SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1877-9, 1 CLASP: 1879; ‘3074 PTE P. J. CLAY. 3/60TH FOOT.’; EGYPT AND SUDAN MEDAL 1882-9, DATED 1882, 3 CLASPS: TEL-EL-KEBIR, SUAKIN 1884, EL-TEB TAMAAI; ‘3074 PTE P. CLAY. 3/K.R.RIF:C.’, ARMY L.S. & G.C., V.R. ‘3074. LCE CORPL. P. J. CLAY. K.R.RIF:C.’, KHEDIVE'S STAR DATED 1882, REGIMENTALLY IMPRESSED ‘3074’ & ‘3 KRR’, WITH ‘P CLAY’ ADDITIONALLY PRIVATELY ENGRAVED
Philip Isaac Clay, aged 18 from St Mary, Nottingham, enlisted into the Rifle Brigade under the alias Francis Valentine Beaufort, on 17 December 1860. Assigned to the 3rd battalion, regimental number 1325, a month later he transferred to the 4th Battalion and on 27 March 1862 was appointed Bugler. Reengaging for service on 24 February 1870 under his real name, he transferred to the 3rd Battalion, 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps as a Private and was given a new Regimental number; 3074.
Promoted Lance Corporal on 3 January 1881, he was deprived his stripe for misconduct 10 July 1882 but was re-appointed Lance Corporal, having been permitted to extend his service over 21 years in February that year. He was finally discharged from the army at Aldershot at the age of 55, after 36 years’ service, on 16 October 1897. Unsurprisingly his conduct was noted as ‘exemplary’. He moved back to Nottingham on his discharge and died on 31 October 1908
According to his service papers, Clay, took part in the Zulu War, Transvaal War (1st Boer War), Egypt 1882 campaign and eastern Soudan campaign of 1884 and was entitled to South Africa 1879 medal, Egyptian medal and 3 clasps, Khedives Star and Good Conduct medal. Clay additional held the Service number 4059, which was the one he held on discharge (all confirmed in his papers).
His papers additional note that his wife, Annie, had died in November 1895 and he had 5 daughters and 3 sons, 2 of the latter serving with their father in the 3rd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps from the 1880’s one of who would be awarded the DCM for gallantry during the Boer War.
During the Zulu War, the 3/60th Rifles saw action at the battle of Gingindlovu, 2 April 1879 and joined Crealock's First Division during the second invasion. The Battalion later took part in the search and capture of the Zulu King and when most other Regiments went home they stayed in South Africa taking part in the 1st Boer War, where they were present at Laing’s Nek, Ingogo River and Majuba Hill. During the Egyptian campaign of 1882, the battalion was present at the battles of Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir.
A year later, the 3rd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th having been dropped from its title), saw further active service, this time in Egypt during the 1882 campaign and was present at the battle of Tel-El-Kebir on 13th September 1882. Remaining in the Middle East, the Battalion saw further service in Egypt and the Sudan, being present during the Suakin 1884 Expedition, which lasted from 19th February to 26th March 1884, and in both the battles of El Teb on 29th February 1884, and the battle of Tamaai on 13th March 1884.
A more detailed summary of the Battalion’s service can be found here:
https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/krrc.htm
Condition VF/NVF. Contact wear, service number/unit on LS. weak in places, Egypt much less wear here and SA not weak at all. Original ribbons on all but LS medal. With digital copy service papers.
An extremely fine set of medal to a long service soldier of the 3rd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, his medals and clasps being the full entitlement for the battalion during the period of his service.