Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Sergeant T. Wilson, Essex Regiment

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (3648 Corpl. J. Wilson 2d. Essex Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3648 Serjt: T. Wilson. Essex Regt.) heavy contact marks, nearly very fine and a unique clasp combination to the Regiment (2) £400-500

Thomas Wilson was born at Mile End, London, in 1870 and attested for the Essex Regiment on 20 October 1892. Posted initially to the 1st Battalion, he transferred to the 2nd Battalion on 27 November 1893, and served with them in India from 1893-1901. Promoted Corporal on 11 November 1897, he served on attachment to the Commissariat Transport Department during the Tirah Expedition, 1897-98, before being seconded to the Indian Unattached List on 11 February 1898.

Wilson subsequently served with the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War from 7 December 1901 until 16 October 1902, and was promoted Sergeant on departing South Africa. He subsequently served on the Permanent Staff of the 3rd Battalion from 3 December 1905, reverting to the 2nd Battalion on 27 May 1909, and was discharged on 23 February 1911. Although his service is recorded as ‘exemplary’, he did not receive a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Note: Only 33 India General Service Medals were awarded to the Essex Regiment.
Approximately 34 men of 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with just the two date clasps. The regiment landed in Durban on 23 December 1901, and it is probable therefore that these men (a large number of whom were invalided home, and presumably arrived in South Africa unwell) did not proceed to the front and stayed in Durban.

The combination of an I.G.S. and a ‘date clasps only’ Q.S.A. is unique to the Regiment.