Pair: Drum Major W. Newton, 63rd Regiment of Foot
Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Drum - Mjr.: W. Newton. 63/Foot.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (2987 D. Maj. W. Newton. 63rd Foot) mounted court-style for display, nearly extremely fine (2) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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William Newton was born at Gibraltar about 1839. He attested as a ‘Boy’ soldier into the army at Winchester on 18 June 1853, being posted to 63rd Regiment of Foot. He was appointed a Drummer on 30 May 1854 and served in Dublin, Malta and Canada, being promoted Corporal on 13 November 1863 and Sergeant on 31 May 1861. On 16 January 1863 he was promoted to Drum Major and returned for ‘home’ service in Scotland and Ireland in 1865. His regiment sailed for India on H.M. Troopship Serapis on 7 October 1870, where he was stationed at Jhansi. He was discharged from the army on 12 June 1876 as ‘being found unfit for further service’. His disability was stated to be ‘ague’ caused by exposure to the climate and ‘malarious influences’ in India. He was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on his discharge and received the Meritorious Service Medal with annuity in 1907, these were his only medallic awards. He died at Chelsea on 24 November 1909, aged 70.

Sold with copied research.