Three: Conductor T. H. Reed, Indian Ordnance Department, formerly Lance Sergeant, Devonshire Regiment

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4118 Pte. T. Reed. 1st. Bn. Devon: Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Relief of Ladysmith, Tugela Heights (4118 Pte. T. Reed, Devon: Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (Staff Serjt. T. Reed Ordce. Dept.); together with an India Voluntary War Work 1914-19 war badge in H.M. Mint Calcutta case of issue, contact marks, very fine (4) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Thomas Henry Reed was born in Bristol in 1876. A Labourer by occupation he attested for the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry in 1893, later attesting for the Devonshire Regiment at Bristol on 1 January 1895. Posted to the 2nd Battalion in Plymouth he was drafted to the 1st Battalion then serving in Peshawar, India on 15 October 1896. With the Tirah Field Force he received a gunshot flesh wound to the back in action at Khangarbur on 28 October 1897. His embarkation on 8 December 1899 for South Africa was delayed due to a hernia, and he subsequently joined the 2nd Battalion involved with the Natal Field Force. Invalided home due to ‘Continuous Fever’ he was posted to the 4th (Militia) Battalion in Jersey. On recovery and promoted to Lance Sergeant he was posted to the 1st Battalion in India in November 1903, before transferring to the Bombay Unattached List for employment in the Ordnance Department in May 1904. Promoted to Sergeant, Indian Ordnance Department, Kirkee Arsenal, in April 1912 he was promoted to Sub-Conductor the following year. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1913 he moved to Ferozepore in October 1915. Specially promoted to Conductor in recognition of the services rendered in India in connection with the War on 1 January 1917, he was Mentioned for valuable services rendered in India on June 1918. Sent down from Bannu, North West Frontier due to malaria and debility on 4 December 1919 he was invalided home due to Neurasthenia on 18 March 1920, being transferred to the Pension Establishment with 40% disability pension on 10 April 1921 after 26 years and 3 months’ service. Retiring to Twickenham he died on 14 January 1959, aged 82.

Sold with copied service record, considerable original documentation including amongst others 1) named photograph of the European Staff, Ferozepore Arsenal October 1915, 2) Retirement Certificate of an Indian Department Warrant Officer on parchment, 3) signed hand written list of stations in which he served and 4) official letter from Secretary to the Government of India dated 18 March 1921 forwarding the India Voluntary War Work 1914-19 war badge and other research.