Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies). Victorian issue (Volr. J. P. Keating Mussoorie Volr. Rifle Corps.)

Note: The medal confirmed awarded per publication of award in Gazette of India 1271 of 1896

Important: One of only two awards issued named to the Mussoorie Volunteer Rifle Corps

The recipient who was of European or Eurasian ethnicity was holding the rank of Volunteer while serving with the Mussoorie Volunteer Rifle Corps

Reference Registers of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office, 1746-1939, J. Keating first appears listed in 1881, listed as an Assistant Surveyor, 4th Grade, working with the Surveyor General's Office in The Great Trigonometrical and Topographical Survey. Subsequent issues of the same publication, record him as; (1885) Second Grade Assistant Surveor, employed on Andaman Topographical Survey ; (1890) Assistant Surveyor 1st Grade, employed with No, 24 Party, Upper Burma; (1895) Extra Assistant Superintendent 6th Grade, No. 14 Part Nimar (Western Central India)

Reference 'Thackers Directory' issue of 1897, the recipient is shown included under the alphabetical lists of permanent residents, as J. Keating, extra assistant superintendent, No 14 Survey Party, Mussoorie - and the only 'J Keating' listed therein. By the time of the 1902 issue of 'Thackers Directory', J. Keating, was holding the same grade of rank, but had relocated to Lower Burma, where he was then employed with No.3 Party Survey of India. He was still resident in Lower Burma by the time of the 1904 issue of 'Thacker's Directory'.

The Mussoorie Volunteer Rifle Corps was raised on 24 July 1871, and prior to it's restyling as Mussoorie Volunteer Rifles in 1897, was recorded as having mustered an establishment of 384 'All-Ranks' in 1896, which by rank comprised:

- Colonel: 1
- Majors: 2
- Captains: 7
- Lieutenants: 7
- 2nd Lieutenants: 7
- Medical Officer: 1
- Honorary Chaplain: 2
- Sergeant Major Instructor: 1
- 1st Class Sergeant Instructors: 2
- Colour Sergeants: 7
- Sergeants: 11
- Lance Sergeants: 8
- Corporals: 23
- Volunteers: 305

The Mussoorie Volunteer Rifle Corps (which unit was awarded only 2 x Victorian issue VFLM's both in 1896) was officially re-styled as Mussoorie Volunteer Rifles in 1897, subsequently receiving 32 x VFLSM's between 1898-1916 comprising 9 x Victorian issue medals, 7 x EDVII issue medals & 16 x GV issue medals

Following the Defence of India Act (1916), the Mussoorie Volunteer Rifles became the, 9th Mussoorie Battalion, Indian Defence Force (earning 10 x GV issue VFLSM's)

An extremely rare regimental medal issue to a recipient who led a much travelled and fascinating life in British India as a Topographical Surveyor

Condition: About VF

Code: 21230