An Order of St. John group of seven to Colonel W. B. Allin, Royal Army Medical Corps

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer Brother’s breast badge, silver; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Surgn., M.B., A.M.D.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Surgn., Med. Staff); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (Colonel, R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Colonel, R.A.M.C.); Jubilee 1897, silver, Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed, pitting, good fine and better, except Q.S.A./K.S.A. good very fine (7) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick.

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William Briggs Allin was born in Great Torrington, Devon. After qualifying as a M.B. Glas., L.R.C.P. Ed., L.R.C.S. Ed., he entered the Army Medical Department as a Surgeon in February 1877. After service in the Afghan War of 1878-80, he served in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85 where he had charge of the Field Hospital at Gakdul Wells. For his services in the latter he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 26 August 1885) and was specially promoted to Surgeon-Major. He next served in the Isazai Expedition of 1892, followed by service in the Boer War 1899-1902. As P.M.O. in the Field Army in Natal and Lines of Communication, he was three times mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 30 March, 19 June 9 November 1900) and specially promoted to Colonel. He died in India on 8 September 1903.