India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (2879 Pte. P. Innes 1st. Bn. Gord Highrs.)

Medal and clasp verification: Medal & clasp verified per respective medal roll of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders (ref WO 100/77) compiled and signed at, Gharial, India, 1 July 1896

Peter Innes, second son of Peter Innes (General Labourer) & Isabella Innes (nee McIntosh) was a native of the ,Parish of Mortlach, Dufftown, Banffshire, Scotland, where he was born on, 5 January 1868. Peter was part of a large family, having no less than 6 x brothers (William the eldest, & 5 x younger brothers, viz; George (Private George Innes was 'Killed-in-Action' on 29 March 1918, while serving with the Imperial Camel Corps of the Egyptian Field Force, during the Great War), Charles, Alexander, Walter & Robert, and 3 x sisters viz, elder sisters, Ann 'Annie' & Isabella, and a younger sister, Margaret

On, 18 December 1887, at Aberdeen, Scotland, Peter Innes, attested for service with the British Army, when he contracted to serve a 'Short Service' (12 years) engagement, that comprised 7 x years 'With the Colours' & 5 x years with the 'Army Reserve'. On enlistment, he described himself as having been prior employed as a 'Farm Servant', and was posted for service with his local regiment, the Gordon Highlanders. Peter was however no stranger to military service, as he had prior served with the 6th Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders. Peter subsequently served overseas with 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders as under:

- Ceylon Colony: 29/12/1890 - 03/01/1892(1 year & 6 days)
- British India: 04/01/1892 - 02/12/1895 (3 years & 333 days)

During his service in India, Peter served with his battalion during the 'Relief of Chitral' expedition in 1895, whereat 1/Gordons were conspicuous for their services at the 'Storming of the Malakand Pass' on 3 April 1895 (a foretaste of a greater frontier battle and undying fame, that befell 1/Gordons, when 2 x years later during the, Tirah campaign, the Gordons won fame for their forward fighting prowess at the capturing of the Dargai Heights & the awarding of 2 x Victoria Crosses, including that to Piper Findlater). Peter Innes was transferred to the Army Reserve on, 6 December 1895. Although, he was recalled and 'mobilized' on, 9 October 1899, Peter Innes, did not embark for overseas service during the South African War, and instead continued to remain on 'Home' service until he took his discharge from the British Army on 27 April 1901

Peter Innes married Mary in and by 1914, the couple were resident in Aberdeen, Scotland, where they lived at, 4 North Constitution Street, Aberdeen, and from where Peter was employed as a 'Mason's Labourer'. On , 20 April 1915, at the age of 47, Peter, re-enlisted into the British Army, initially being posted to his old corps, the Gordon Highlanders, with subsequent postings to, Royal Defence Corps (205 Protection Company / 452 Agricultural Company) and the Labour Corps. Peter did not serve overseas from Britain during the Great War, and was not awarded any medals for Great War service. He was however awarded a Silver War Badge (No 453948) reference the Silver War Badge Register WO 329/3204. At the time of his final discharge form the British Army, on 13 February 1919, Peter Innes was described as having a 'Very Good' character, and that his intended residence after leaving the British Army was , 132 Wellington Road, Aberdeen

Note: The recipients service record(s) are extant and accessible at The National Archives

Condition About EF

Code: 23422