Rifleman M. McGrane, 3rd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps

"Michael McGrane was born in May 1858 in St.Paul's, Dublin, and worked as a labourer. McGrane enlisted at Dublin as a Rifleman (No.3402) into the 60th Rifles on 22nd May 1878, when aged 20. It is believed that he enlisted at the same time as his brother, and travelled via Southampton to Winchester to join his regiment. On completion of his basic training, McGrane was posted to the 3rd Battalion, 60th King's Royal Rifles, which were then in the process of moving from Aldershot to Colchester.

The 3/60th were posted to South Africa on 12th February 1879 but McGrane remained at home, and was then transferred to the 1st Battalion, 60th Rifles based at Winchester on 19th February 1879, but was then posted back to the 3rd Battalion on 2nd May 1879, making up one of the draft of men sent to joined the Battalion in South Africa where it had just taken part in the closing stages of the Zulu War. McGrane sailed aboard the Orontes and landed at Port Natal, Durban, and was then employed with the battalion in the building of Fort Napoleon followed by Fort Chelmsford, and was then on active service in the field from 24th July 1879, and then moved to the camp at Ulundi. McGrane is entitled to the South Africa Medal 1877-1879 with clasp 1879 for his service during the Zulu War.

With the war over, McGrane remained on service in South Africa, where he contracted herpes on 8th April 1880, and was awarded his 1st Good Conduct Pay on 23rd May 1880. McGrane together with his battalion was then present during the disastrous First Boer War of 1880 to 1881, and whilst serving during the war, gained his 4th Class Certificate of Education on 20th December 1880, and was with the 3rd Battalion when it marched to Ladysmith where it arrived on 10th January 1881, after which he was present with his battalion at the battle's of Laing's Nek, Ingogo River and Majuba Mountain.

McGrane was promoted to Lance Corporal on 8th February 1882, a was then posted aboard the Orontes again and sailed via the Suez Canal and Egypt, to Malta where he arrived on 2nd April 1882, and on 2nd June 1882 McGrane was promoted to Corporal. With the outbreak of hostilities in Egypt, McGrane was despatched together wit his battalion to Egypt, where he landed at Alexandra on 18th July 1882 shortly after the bombardment, and was then involved in a number of small battles and skirmishes before being present at the battle of Tel-El-Kebir on 13th September 1882. McGrane having by now been posted to join the Mounted Infantry detachment formed from elements of his Battalion. In addition to the assault on Tel-El-Kebir, McGrane would have been involved in both the 1st and 2nd battles of Kassassin.

With the fighting over, McGrane was awarded the Egypt Medal for 1882 with clasp Tel-El-Kebir, and the Khedive's Star dated 1882. The battalion remained on Garrison Duty out in Egypt, and on 24th January 1883 he was arrested for being drunk on duty, being found guilty on the 27th, he was reduced to Rifleman and lost his Good Conduct Pay, but this was eventually restored to him on 28th January 1884, and on 8th February 1884 he together with his battalion, was ordered on active service in the Sudan, and was then present at the battle of El-Teb on 29th February 1884, being then present during the Suakin operations. With the fighting once again over, the battalion, was posted back to Alexandria from Suez, once again aboard the Orontes, on 10th May 1884, with McGrane leaving the battalion then, he having reached the end of his service, and he was posted home aboard the Orontes on 19th May 1884, being posted to the 1st Class Army Reserve on 14th June 1884 after 6 years and 22 days service with the Colours. For his service in the Sudan during 1884 he was additionally awarded two clasps to his Egypt Medal. After service with the Reserves, McGrane was fully discharged on 25th May 1890. Of note his South Africa Medal with clasp 1879 is known to exist, having been sold by Kaplan's in South Africa in August 1980, though its whereabouts are presently unknown."

Source: London Medals

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