Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Pair: Sergeant C. W. Tait, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Bedfordshire Regiment
India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (3100. Lce. Cpl. C. Tait. 1/D.C.L.I.) officially engraved in the usual style associated with the DCLI; British War Medal 1914-20 (22175 Sjt. C. W. Tait. Bedf. R.) very fine

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4800. Pte. P. Tait. 1/D.C.L.I.) officially engraved in the usual style associated with the DCLI, very fine (3) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units.

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Charles Walter Tait was born in the Straits Settlements around 1876 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in the spring of 1890. He attended a one-year ‘Pupil’s Course’ of instruction in the flute, and likely served as a member of the band of the 1st Battalion before witnessing extensive service in India. Returned home to his wife in South Africa, he later enlisted for the Bedfordshire Regiment on 7 June 1915, possibly training new recruits in England; for this work he was awarded the BWM and a silver war badge.

Percy Tait was born around 1880 and enlisted in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 2 February 1895. Posted to the 2nd Battalion initially, it appears that he transferred to the 1st Battalion and followed a similar path to his elder brother, being present on the Punjab Frontier and during the Tirah Expedition. It is not known when he left the regiment, but records note that he died a civilian in Billericay, Essex, in 1907.

Sold with copied research relating to both men and other members of the Tait family.