An extremely rare & regimentally unique campaign medal pair to a 'Cherry-Picker': Corporal James Henry Roberts, 11th Hussars

- IGS 1895. Silver 2 x clasps 'ROC 1895' & 'PF 97-98 (2857 Cpl. J. Roberts, 11th Hussars)
- QSA Medal. Silver 5 x clasps 'CC' 'PA' 'DR' 'SA 01' & 'SA 02' (4827 Serjt. J. Roberts. Imp: Yeo:)

The later issued top clasp on the IGS 1895, is attached by customised silver rings - and fairly typical for this medal - the medal with earlier ROC clasp always being issued with the clasp 'sans' lugs, with any subsequent clasps being attached by local customised fittings

Important: The medal roll records only 11 x Relief of Chitral clasps to 11th Hussars, which comprised 1 x Officer and 10 x Other-Ranks, all of whom were serving on detachment with the Commissariat Department of the Punjab Command. Of those 11 'All-Ranks', only two of the men, including John Roberts, subsequently qualified and received he 'Punjab Frontier' clasp. In total 2 x clasp IGS medals with these clasps to the regiment, and an extremely rare regimental pair of medals

During the Relief of Chitral expedition of 1895, John Roberts, then holding the rank of Corporal, served attached with the Commissariat Department of the Punjab Command

Medals verification: Both medals and all clasps verified as entitled per the respective campaign medal rolls cited below:

- IGS Medal & 2 clasps: WO 100/78 for ROC (shown as No 2857 (sic) & WO 100/84 for PF)
- QSA Medal & 5 x clasps: WO 100/130 roll of 146 Squadron 32nd Regiment Imperial Yeomanry (Lancashire Hussars) showing attached from 11th Hussars

Note: The QSA medal roll shows that the recipient was one of two senior Non Commissioned Officer's, of the 11th Hussars attached for service to 146 Squadron 32nd Regiment Imperial Yeomanry (Lancashire Hussars) during the South African War, the regimental number 4827 being the number he was allocated while on attachment and as shown in the medal roll

James Henry Roberts, eldest son of James Henry Roberts (who as the recipients notified next-of-kin, was a resident of, 18 High Street, Bordesley, Birmingham) and Roberts, was a native of Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, where he was born in 1870. By trade a 'Butcher', James was 18 years of age, when he enlisted for the British Army, at , Warwick, England, on, 18 April 1888, on which date he was posted to the regiment of his choice, the 11th Hussars. However, James was no stranger to military service, as he cited prior volunteer service with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. In total, James went on to serve an impressive total of 21 years reckonable service, by the time he took his final discharge form the British Army, on, 17 April 1909. In spite of his many year service, James never received a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, due to having been court-martialled on at least two occasions. At discharge he indicated that his residence address was to be at the 'Red Lion Inn'

Postings during his 21 years service, comprised:

- Home: 18/04/1888 - 21/07/1890 (2 years & 95 days)
- South Africa: 22/07/1890 - 23/10/1892 (2 years & 94 days)
- India: 24/10/1892 - 09/03/1898 (5 years & 137 days)
- Home: 10/03/1898 - 21/12/1899 (1 year & 287days)
- South Africa: 22/12/1899 - 26/03/1901 (1 year & 95 days)
- Home: 27/03/1901 - 14/04/1902 (1 year & 19 days)
- South Africa: 15/04/1902 - 14/01/1903 (275 days)
- Home: 15/01/1903 - 17/04/1909 (6 years & 93 days)

The recipients service papers are extant and accessible at The National Archives

An extremely rare, and desirable campaign medal pair to the 11th Hussars - 'The Cherry-Pickers'

Condition: GVF

Code: 23447