PRE WW1 BRITISH 1854 INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WAR 2nd SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS

Offered is an original 1854 India General Service Medal, to Private Fraser, who served in the 2nd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders during the Hazara campaign of 1888.

36mm wide circular silver medal with ornate scrolled swivel ribbon suspension bar with HAZARA 1888 clasp; the face with the crowned head of Queen Victoria facing left, circumscribed ‘VICTORIA REGINA’ and signed ‘W. WYON. R.A.’ (for William Wyon, R.A., 1795-1851, chief engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 to 1851); the reverse with a standing Victory to the left crowning with laurel a seated classical warrior, a short sword in his right hand, its scabbard in his left, his helmet on the ground, lotus flower and leaves below, signed ‘L.C. WYON.’ (for Leonard Charles Wyon, 1826-1891, eldest son of William Wyon and his successor as chief engraver at the Royal Mint); attributed on the edge in script to 602 Pte. A. Fraser 2nd Sea. Highrs; on correct ribbon. The medal in exceptionally fine, toned condition.

The medal comes with copies of his servcie record showing Alexander Fraser was born Rosskeen, Ross in 1863, he enlisted 1/6/1882 with the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders with a regimental number of 602. He served England 1/6/82 – 27/2/1883. India 2/6/83 – 7/2/1890. Home 8/2/90 – 31/5/1894.During his time in India he served in the Hazara Campaign as a signaller. The first phase of the campaign ended with the Hassanzai and Akazai tribes requesting an armistice on October 19, 1888. The second phase of the campaign targeted the tribes that lived north of Black Mountain such as the Allaiwals. The campaign ended when the Allaiwal village of Pokal was occupied and destroyed by the British on November 2 and 3, 1888.

He re-enlisted on the 28/3/1900 with a short term enlistment to the 1st Battalion Royal Scottish Reserve Regiment with a regimental number of 1106, Discharged 7/3/01. Re enlisted with the Royal Garrison Regiment with number 231, 8/3/1901 to 14/5/01 Home service. 15/5/01 – 16/2/03 Mediterranean. Home 17/2/03 – 27/4/03. He was charged twice as a junior soldier in India. 1/5/1886 at Moradabad for ‘Farting in the ranks’ awarded 3 days CB & 21/5/1888 at Bureilly ‘Drinking in C Coy lines after tattoo’. Admonished.

Royal Reserve battalions were formed from veteran soldiers in the United Kingdom for Home Service. Time-expired warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks between the ages of 21 and 45 would enlist for service in the United Kingdom for a period of one year and receive a bounty of £22. After the Royal Reserve Regiments were phased out, the Royal Garrison Regiment was formed, to relieve regular infantry battalions in overseas garrisons like Malta and Gibraltar. Many of the RGR's members had previously been in one of the Royal Reserve Regiments.A time expired soldier who answered the call again when the Boer War broke out. It is possible that he is entitled to the Queen's Mediterranean Medal. This was authorised by King Edward VII and was awarded to Militia troops who had replaced their regular Army counterparts in the various military garrisons across the Mediterranean, in Gibraltar, Malta and Egypt. This allowed regular troops to be available for the Second Boer War.