Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eleven: Acting Major H. A. Desborough, Indian Supply and Transport Corps, Indian Army, late Essex Regiment

1914-15 Star (No. 10112 S. Srgt. H. A. Desberough [sic], S. & T. Corps.); British War and Victory Medals (10311 S-Condr. H. A. Desborough, S. & T.C.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp North West Frontier 1930-31 (Condr. H. A. Desborough. I.A.S.C.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S- Sgt. H. A. Desborough. I.A.S.C.); France, Third Republic, Medal of Honour, silver-gilt, with crossed swords and wreath suspension, mounted as worn, very fine or better (11) £400-£500

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

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Henry Albert Desborough was born in West Ham, London in 1888 and attested for the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Essex Regiment in 1905, transferring almost immediately to the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. He served in Malta and Dublin before transferring to the 1st Battalion with which he served in Burma and then India from December 1908. He was awarded the Delhi Durbar medal in 1911.

Desborough transferred to the Indian Supply and Transport Corps in January 1915 and served with them during the Great War on the Baluchistan frontier, at Quetta, before being sent to the Mesopotamian theatre in June 1916. He was awarded the French Medaille d’Honneur, in gilt, with Swords, in 1920.

Desborough served through the inter-War years at a variety of depots and postings within India, reaching the rank of Sub-Conductor in 1926, and served in Waziristan (Razmak) during the frontier operations of 1930-31, before being posted to various depots along the frontier in the 1930s. Appointed Assistant Commissary in 1936 and Captain and Acting Commissary in February 1939, he retired in September 1940. However, he quickly returned to service, remaining in India, and finally retired as Acting Major, Royal Indian Army Service Corps, on 10 August 1945, after 40 years’ service. He died in Orpington, Kent, in 1963.

Sold with bestowal document for the French Medal of Honour, named to Henry Albert Desborough, and dated 22 July 1920, and various copied research, including a good portrait photographic image of Desborough in uniform.