Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Volunteer Force Long Service, V.R. (Bugle Major R. T. Milner, Tees Royal Engineers Vol. S.M. 1896) engraved naming, mounted as worn, very fine, rare £180-220

A unique medal issue (of this reign) to this unit. Awarded per Army Order July 1896.

A study of respective Army Orders shows that only an estimated 14 Volunteer Long Service Medals were issued to this unit, of which only one was ever awarded during the reign of Queen Victoria - the remaining 13 all being Edward VII awards.

Recipient was a Bugle Major serving with the Tees Royal Engineers Volunteer Submarine Miners. The Tees Division of the Submarine Miners Headquarters was located at Middlesborough.

Richard Todhunter Milner was a native of Darlington, County Durham, England, where he had been born circa 1844. The 1881 Census for England and Wales, when aged 37 years, shows him employed as a Newspaper Agent, living with his wife and four sons at 94 Union Street, Middlesborough. By the time of the 1891 Census, he is shown as a 'Journalist' (the 1901 describes him as Author Journalist / Hospital Secretary) and then living at Marton Road.,Middlesborough

Sold together with copied research notes.