Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Kirkee and Poona (T. Hamlin, 65th Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, edge bruising and contact marks, traces of lacquer, very fine £2,400-£2,800

Glendining’s, May 1902; Needes Collection 1940; Elson Collection 1963; Clive Nowell Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2009.

Approximately 88 clasps awarded to European recipients, including 17 to the 65th Foot.

Thomas Hamlin was born in the Parish of St. Nicholas, Liverpool, in 1797, and enlisted in the 56th Foot on 7 July 1811. Arriving in India on 7 July 1815, he transferred to the 65th Foot on 3 November 1816 and was raised Corporal 19 July 1821. He served with this Regiment throughout the entirety of the Deccan War, and is noted upon his Army Service Record: ‘also in the Persian Gulph at Rafs al Khy-ma in 1819. - and at Benboo-Ali in 1820.’

Reduced to Private in April 1822, Hamlin volunteered for the 20th Foot on 25 June 1822, but his service was terminated at Belgaum on 31 October 1833 on account of visceral (artery) disease: ‘Has for the last two years been almost constantly in hospital with severe & long protracted attacks... without deriving the least benefit from medicine, there is also great irregularity in the functions of the bowels. He has been sixteen years in India and I attribute his complaints to the effects of climate and am of the opinion that they will disqualify him permanently from Military Service. His conduct whilst in hospital has been good.’

Sold with copied Army Service Record and the Proceedings of a Medical Board detailing his discharge and transfer home to England.