Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army L.S. & G.C. (3), E.VII.R. (2) (89907 Gnr: F. Darby. R.H.A.; 61961 Co: Sjt: Maj: H. Wheeler. R.G.A.); G.V.R., 3rd issue, India (1205 L-Nk. Ghulam Rasul. I’’Bty. R.H.A.) very fine and better (3) £80-£100

Francis Darby was born in Aston, Warwickshire, in 1873. He attested for the Royal Artillery around 1891 and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal on 1 July 1909.

Henry Wheeler was born in Reading in 1867. He attested for the Royal Artillery at Newport, Monmouthshire, on 25 July 1887 and initially served as Gunner to the 1st Brigade, Welsh Division. Transferred to ‘A’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, on 2 January 1888, he witnessed extensive service in India and was married at Rawalpindi on 12 December 1895. Returned home, Wheeler served in 1905 as Battery Sergeant Major with the 1st Midlothian Royal Garrison Artillery and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal with gratuity on 1 January 1906. This represents the recipient’s full entitlement as he served in India throughout the Boer War and witnessed home service during the Great War with the 2/18th East Lancashire Battery, Royal Field Artillery; he is however entitled to Silver War Badge No. B9176.

The Army List notes that the Indian gunners of ‘I’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, were largely composed of Punjabi Musalmans recruited from the Trans Jhelum region. The Battery transferred from Secunderabad to Aldershot in 1914, and served alongside ‘L’ Battery with 1st Cavalry Brigade in the early engagements of the Great War.

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