Description

For sale is a India Medal with clasp HAZARA 1888, named to 2111 PTE J. WILLOCK. 2ND BN SEA HIGHRS. It comes with copies of service records and medal rolls.

Lance Corporal John Willock was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1867. A machinist by trade, he enlisted into the 1str Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on 17/5/1886. He was transferred to the 2nd Battalion in February 1887 to deploy to India with them serving there from 23/2/1887 – 26/3/1894. He participated in the Black Mountain Expedition 1888 and qualified for the India Medal with clasp Hazara 1888.

He returned to England and was transferred to the Army Reserve in April 1894. He rejoined in May 1898 and rejoined the 2nd Battalion again for service in South Africa fighting the Boers from 3/1/1900 – 9/8/1902.

He qualified for the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Paardeburg, Cape Colony. Also, the Kings South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. One again he returned to England for discharge to the Reserve on 12/8/1902.

When the Great War broke out, he was working as a joiner (carpenter) in Kilmarnock. At 48 years of age, he enlisted with the Seaforth Highlanders on the 12/4/1915 serving in the Depot until discharging for the final time on 28/2/1919. He would have qualified for the British war Medal.

A souvenier of one of his wars service was malaria, which he received a pension for.