Vict LS&GC Medal to McGill 79th Cameron Highlanders 1837-59

An interesting army long service and good conduct medal correctly named to Sergeant Robert McGill 79th Highlanders.
Robert McGill was born in Galashiels, Selkirk Scotland in 1817. He enlisted in Edinburgh on 23rd October 1837 into the 79th (Cameron) Highlanders. Although he was trained as fighting man, he was also employed as the company tailor. When he returned to Britain after his two tours (see regimental history below), he was promoted very quickly, to corporal 11th December 1854 and to full sergeant on 14th December 1854. This was I believe, because there had to be a company of the regiment to stay behind when the rest went off to the Crimea in 1854. According to his character and conduct sheet he was a very good soldier and he was the recipient of three good conduct stripes. It is surprising that an old regular soldier like McGill didn’t go to the Crimea, but there is no record of him on the Crimea roll.
1417 Sergeant Robert McGill was discharged on 26th February 1859 after 21 years and 127 days with the colours. He went home and resided in Peebles Scotland. There is a record for a Robert McGill who enlisted into the Tweeddale Volunteers in 1861. But there is no further information on this man. In the 1861 census we see Robert married to Margaret and working as a Finisher in a Woollen Factory and listed as a Chelsea Pensioner and listed with four children.
The medal is in superb original condition with beautiful detail. It is suspended on a good piece of replacement ribbon.

Regimental History. In the month of June, 1840, the head-quarters of the regiment moved to Haydock Lodge near Warrington with detachments at Bolton, Liverpool, Wigan, and Stockport. In the month of August following the regiment received orders to hold itself in readiness to proceed on foreign service to Gibraltar, and consequently on board the Boyne and Prince Regent transports, under the command of Major the Honourable Landerdale Maule arrived at Gibraltar on the 25th and 26th of January, 1841 , respectively on the 7th of June 1848 the regiment embarked on board H.M.S. Resistance at Gibraltar for Canada, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel the Honourable Landerdale Maule; and, after a prosperous voyage, arrived at Quebec on the 27th of July following.
On the 28th the regiment disembarked and occupied the Citadel barracks. Previous to the embarkation of the regiment for Canada a handsome marble tablet was erected by voluntary contribution of the officers and men in the Wesleyan Chapel at Gibraltar to the memory of those non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who died during their period of service on the Rock. The following is the inscription thus recorded on the tablet : - TO THE MEMORY OF THE UNDERMENTIONED NON- COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES OF THE CAMERON HIGHLANDERS, A.D. 1841-1847. Cuimhne Nan Sonn Nach Maireann.
In the month of June, 1851 , the service companies received orders of readiness to embark for England, and on the 4th of August they embarked accordingly, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Landerdale Maule, in the freight-ship Herefordshire, and, after a highly favourable voyage, arrived in Leith Roads on the 30th of the same month. When the regiment was about to embark for England a highly complementary letter was addressed to Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Landerdale Maule by the Magistrates and Council of Quebec, of which the following is a copy:
Quebec, 29th July, 1851 . “ To Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Landerdale Maule, Commanding the 79th Highlanders. “ The Magistrates of this city have learned with regret that the expiration of your period of service here will shortly cause the removal of yourself and your distinguished regiment from amongst them. “ They avail themselves of this occasion to acknowledge their obligation to you for your willing and efficient co -operation with them upon all occasions when your aid was required to assist them in the performance of their duties, nor can they pass over without acknowledgment the cordial manner in which you and your officers have at 79TH CAMERON HIGHLANDERS. 101 all times contributed to the amusements of the citizens of Quebec. “ It is with great pleasure that the Magistrates bear testimony to the excellent conduct of the men of your regiment during their sojourn in Quebec, where they will be long and favourably remembered. “ With our warmest wishes for your welfare, and that of the officers and men of your corps, we beg to subscribe ourselves, &c. SIGNED BY THE WHOLE OF THE “ MAGISTRATES AND COUNCIL.”

Code: 28180