PRE WW1 INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 1521 DRUMMER TYTE 1ST HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT

Drummer Tyte joined at 14 years of age and served year 21 years with the battalion. 15 years of it in India & Burma, he was also court martialled and had his pay stopped for 6 months!

Offered is a India General Service Medal (1854-95), 2 clasps, BURMA 1887 – 89, BURMA 1889 – 92. Period engraved 40/1521 Drumr. W. Tyte 1st. Bn. Hamps R. Comes with copies service records, court martial record and medal rolls.

William Tyte was born in 1866 at Fermoy, County Cork., It is probable that his father was Sergeant William Tyte who was serving in the 37^th Foot. He enlisted 2/8/1879 in London to the 37^th Regiment 40^th Brigade with the service number 1521, (hence service no 40/1521), he was 14 years old, 4ft 9 inches tall at the time.

The Hampshire Regiment was created in 1881 by merging the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. These became the new unit's 1st and 2nd Battalions respectively. It was probably at this date that he was given the new service number 3578.

Promoted to Corporal 8/2/96. Sergeant 28/1/98. He served at the following locations:

Home 2/8/1879 – 22/7/84

Malta 23/7/84 – 8/1/86.

Court Martial with another drummer 20/10/1884: Breaking out of barracks, striking Sergeant, escaping custody, striking Lance Corporal, escaping arrest. 6 months stoppage of pay. 3 months remittance due to good conduct.

East Indies (India) 9/1/86 – 2/11/88.

Burma 3/11/88 – 27/1/91

Third Anglo Burmese War 1885-1890. Clasps BURMA 1887 – 89 & BURMA 1889 – 92. After the successful occupation of Burma, there were numerous small actions to put down unrest throughout the country.

India 28/1/91 – 28/2/01

Home 1/3/01 – 21/3/01.

Discharge 21/3/1901 with his trade recorded as musician and he had now grown to 5 foot 7! The 1911 census recorded him working as house porter. He died 13/3/1951 at Willesden, Middlesex.