Military Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. Victorian issue. 3rd type with small letter reverse (326. Cr. Sergt. G. Orwin. R. Highrs.)
Important: Colour Sergeant George Orwin, 2nd Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) was serving on the Staff of the 4th (Perthshire) Volunteer Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) when on 1 April 1889, the Officer Commanding recommended him for the award of the LS&GC Medal, and confirmed as his only medal entitlement
Note: Colour-Sergeant Orwin was for many years a Drill-Instructor on the Permanent Staff of the 4th (Perthshire) Volunteer Battalion (The Black Watch) Royal Highlanders, during which tme he was located at the Drll Hall, Crieff, Perthshire
George Noble Orwin, son of Michael Orwin (a Confectioner) and Susana Orwin (nee Dodgson) was a native of, Ouseburne,, Newcastle, Northumberland, England, where he was born sometime in the third quarter of 1850. George attested for the British Army at Newcastle Barracks, on 22 October 1870. At the time of his enlistment he described himself as being 20 years of age, and previously employed as a, 'Rivetter'. On the same day that he attested for the British Army, George - no doubt heavily influenced by the recruiting Sergeant who was of the 73rd Regiment - was posted to the,73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot (in 1881 the regiment was amalgamated with the 42nd Royal Highlanders and became restyled as 2nd Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)) in which regiment George was allocated the regimental number 1825. Promotions during his military service were; Corporal (09/10/1875); Sergeant (26/06/1878) & Colour-Sergeant (07/10/1882). Colour-Sergeant George Orwin took his final discharge from the British Army on 27 October 1896, having racked-up an impressive total of 26 years and 7 days 'With the Colours'. He had been well qualified to be a Drill Instructor, as he held a Second Class Certificate in Education, a Hythe Certificate and the Certificate from the Small Arms Factory, Birmingham. During his many years service with 'The Colours' George never participated in any campaigns, but saw considerable service in Ireland and overseas in Ceylon Colony and in British India..George Noble Orwin served overseas as under:
- Ceylon Colony: 15/12/1870 - 02/02/1874 (3 years & 50 days)
- British India: 03/02/1874 - 19/02/1881 (7 years & 17 days)
The recipients extant service papers and medical records indicate that George was a patron of the 'Bazaar Brothels', during his years of overseas service, as reflected by the several bouts of treatment he received at Colombo (Ceylon Colony) and later at Cawnpore, Delhi and Subatu (British India) for the inevitable venereal diseases that he contracted as a result of his energetic encounters. Perhaps wary, wiser or both, George turned to 'Freemasonry' as a less painful activity while in India, where while serving at Fysabad, Oudh, India, George became a Freemason, when on 9 February 1880, he was initiated into the brotherhood at the The Light in Adjoodhia Lodge
George married Margaret Fitzgerald (born Belfast circa 1854, and shown as NCO's Widow 73rd Regiment in 1881 National Census) at the Parish Church, Portsea, Hampshire, England on 6 October 1881. By the time of the National Census in 1891, the Orwin family comprised the parents and five children which included four sons (Thomas Orwin, born as Thomas Watson in Fyzabad, India, in 1877 - this was George's adopted son), George Orwin (born in England circa 1883), William Orwin (born in Ireland circa 1887) and Albert Orwin (born in Kilmadock, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland in 1890)), and a daughter (Sarah Orwin (born in England circa 1884)). The 1891 National Census for Scotland, records the parents and five children living at Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, where they resided at the 'Drill Hall, Commissioner Street, Crieff' - at the time George Orwin is described as employed as 'Sergeant Instructor 4th V B R H. Another son, James Orwin, was born to the family at Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1892
After retiring from the British Army, George Noble Orwin relocated to Belfast, Ireland, where he is recorded as having died in 1897. The 1901 National Census records George's family, comprising his widow Margaret (described as Head of Family & a 'Laundress', and children William, Albert, Sarah and James Orwin, living at Lawyer Street, St Georges Ward, Belfast, Antrim - by 1911 the family were living at McAdam Street
A fine long service medal to a long serving NCO of the Black Watch, with strong local 42nd Regimental District associations with Crieff, Perthshire, and 4th (Perthshire) Volunteer Battalion (The Black Watch) Royal Highlanders
The recipients service papers are extant and are accessible at The National Archives
Condition: About VF
