General Service Medal 1962. With clasp Northern Ireland' (24150474 Fus. N. J. Turbine RHF.)

The recipient was a 'Jock' holding the rank of Fusilier while serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers

The recipient was reportedly a friend of the McCaig brothers (No. 24203504 Fusilier John Boreland McCaig (17) & No. 24140693 Fusilier Joseph McCaig (18)) - comrades in the same unit - who were executed by the IRA on, 10 March 1971 - and who has been said was a regimental 'Pall-Bearer' at the funeral of the soldier brothers, when their bodies were laid to rest in, Ayrshire, Scotland

At the time that the teenager McCaig brothers and a third soldier (No. 24211 347 Dougald Purdon McCaughey (23)) became victims of an IRA 'Honey Trap' that lured the three off-duty soldiers to their deaths by execution - two of them shot in the head, and another shot in the chest, by IRA gunmen that included, it has been alleged, a former member of the Parachute Regiment of the British Army. This was the first time that any off-duty British Army personnel had been killed by the IRA during the 'Troubles'. A sensational, incident at the time of the 'Troubles', not least the revelation - leading to Public outrage - that the British Army was deploying soldiers as young as 17 years of age on active service!

Note: The above claim(s) was reported by a former NCO of the RHF to the previous owner of the medal, who was a former member of the uniformed services. Other than this attribution, we have nil corroborating evidence to support the claims of personal friendship, or that the recipient was indeed a 'Pall-Bearer. However, the recipient's unique army number is very much in the range of those of his fallen comrades, and the is beyond any doubt an early issue Northern Ireland medal, issued circa 1971, and which has not been 'messed' about with for many years

Sold as seen

During the qualifying for the 'Northern Ireland' clasp, the 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers made multiple tours / deployments to Northern Ireland including below:

- Feb-May 1970: Co Londonderry, HQ in Omagh and companies were deployed to Enniskillen, Dungannon and Armagh
- Feb-Jun 1971: Belfast
- Feb-Jun 1974: Belfast (Andersontown/Suffolk/Twinbrook)
- Jul-Nov 1975: Belfast (Ballymurphy/Springfield/Whiterock)
- Dec 1976 -Apr 1977: Bessbrook
- Aug-Dec 1980: Armagh
- Aug-Sep 1988: Lisnaskea Incremental Roulement Bn
- Dec 1991 - Feb 1992: Op Luff
- May-Nov 1997:
- Mar 2001 - Dec 2003: Province Reinforcement Bn

The medal mounted on its original silk riband in the court-style, as worn by the recipient in service. The reverse of the mounting brooch retaining its hinged pin and clasp fittings

A good early regimental issue medal to the Royal Highland Fusiliers for 'Operation Banner'

Condition: Toned about GVF

Code: 23188