A 'Regimentally Rare' Great War era campaign and long service medal pair to the Indian Volunteers: Private Arnold Cecil McCready, Calcutta Scottish, Auxiliary Force India late 44th Calcutta Scottish, Indian Defence Force

A). British War Medal. Silver issue (719 Pte. A. C. McCready, Cal. Scottish. A.F.)

B). Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Pte. A. C. McCready, 44/Calcutta Scottish I.D.F.)

The VLSM with minor official correction to unit only, and exactly as issued

Note: All BWM's issued to the Calcutta Scottish A.F.I., are named 'A.F.' - the extant medal index cards for recipients all showing the designation 'Cal. Scottish. A.F.'

Medal verification The award of the Volunteer Long Service Medal was published per India Army Order 693 of 1919 - and rare

Rarity: The issue of the VLSM named to unit designation '44/Calcutta Scottish I.D.F.' is extremely rare to the Calcutta Scottish, with only 3 x awards issued thus named - the designation '44/Calcutta Scottish I.D.F.' was only a short lived unit style, that was used on the formation of the 'Indian Defence Force' (1916-1920)

See item code 21590 for a related British War Medal to a McCready that served with the 37th Calcutta Presidency Battalion

Arnold Cecil McCready, son of William 'Willie' Cecil McCready (Inspector of Police (1858-1895)) and Emily Florence McCready (nee Watling, whose father was also an Inspector of Police in Calcutta) was a Eurasian of British descent, was born in Calcutta, British India, on, 15 November 1883. Arnold was employed with the Customs Department of the Government of India (by 1924 he held the post of 'Appraiser'), and when not working, was both an an avid volunteer soldier and a brilliant all-round sportsman, the local Calcutta based newspapers of the early 20th Century containing numerous mentions of Arnold's prowess as a competitive sportsman (football in particular) and participation in the major events of the Calcutta Sporting Calendar. Arnold (40) married Muriel Winifred Le Frank (28) at, St. John's Church, Calcutta, on, 1 June 1929. Arnold and his family migrated to Canada, sometime prior to India gaining independence, as he is recorded employed as a Civil Servant, resident at Crown Street, Vancouver, reference an electoral register dated 1945. Arnold Cecil McCready is recorded as having died at, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on, 5 November 1971, prior to his death he had been resident at, Jervis Street, Vancouver. An obituary was published in 'The Province' issue of 8 November 1971

Calcutta Scottish: The lineage & chronology of the Calcutta Scottish was:

- 1914: Calcutta Scottish raised as a volunteer infantry regiment
- 1917: 44th Calcutta Scottish (Indian Defence Force, I.D.F.)
- 1920: The Calcutta Scottish (Auxiliary Force, India, A.F.I.)
- 1947: Regiment was disbanded on demise of the Auxiliary Force India

See item code 21590 for a related British War Medal to a McCready that served with the 37th Calcutta Presidency Battalion

Condition: GVF

Code: 21604