Miniature Medals from the Collection of Mark Cline

A mounted group of seven miniature dress medals attributed to Conductor R. T. Turner/Teather, Supply and Transport Corps, Indian Army

Tibet 1903-04, no clasp, silver; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908, silver; 1914-15 Star, gold; British War and Victory Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., mounted court style as worn by E. Pearson, Rawalpindi & Murree, the Star with ‘high relief’ wreath, is probably a custom/locally-made piece, Victory ribbon fragmentary, medals good very fine (7) £100-140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Miniature Medals from the Collection of Mark Cline.

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Robert Thomas Turner was born in Limehouse on 19 December 1877. He enlisted into the Royal Horse Artillery on 19 January 1898. Posted to India later the same year, by which time he had changed his name to Teather. He transferred to the Indian Army ‘for transport duties’ in February 1902 and was promoted to Sergeant in February 1903; Sub-Conductor in March 1919 and to Conductor in October 1919. He retired on 19 January 1924.

During the Great War Teather served with the Indian Expeditionary Force at Basra, May 1915-January 1917; then with the Aden Field Force, November 1918-September 1919 and Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, September 1920-September 1921. Awarded an ‘Immediate’ M.S.M. (London Gazette 3 June 1919). Recommendation reads:

‘Sub-Condr. R. T. Teather has been serving as senior W.O. in the Supply Depot, Cawnpore since 4/2/17 until now. He joined after six months leave on M.C. in England, after being invalided from Field Service in Mesopotamia. The Cawnpore Supply Depot being a very large commercial and manufacturing centre, is a very important depot, and deals with very large consignments of stores for despatch to the various fronts, and all over India. Sub-Condr. Teather has had very heavy and continuous responsibilities to carry during the period he has been in the Supply Depot, as all the British and Indian Estabts have been untrained and inexperienced. He has performed his duties with exceptional zeal and energy, and the success of the Supply Depot in meeting demands during a long period has been largely due to his excellent work, which has been exceptionally fine and deserving of recognition.’ With copied photograph, recommendation and service notes.