Volunteer Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies). GV issue (Sgt. P. T. N. Lonorgan. 11 Bde. R.A. (A.F.I.))

Medal verification: Sergeant Patrick Terence Noel Lonorgan, 11th (Madras) Field Brigade, 'The Duke's Own', Royal Artillery, A.F.I., is confirmed having been awarded his VLSM in 1926, the medal published in Indian Army Order 299 of 1926, with award date of, 6 May 1926

Medals issued: Reference 'The Auxiliary Force India and its Predecessors...' (Harfield, 2015) an estimated total of only 28 x VLSM's were awarded named to the unit under the designation(s) 11th (Madras) Brigade, 'The Duke's Own', Royal Artillery, A.F.I., & 11th (Madras) Field Brigade, 'The Duke's Own', Royal Artillery 'The Duke's Own', A.F.I.

Patrick Terence Noel Lonorgan, son of Thomas Duncan Heath Lonorgan (a former 'Drill Instructor' and later an Assistant employed at Spencer & Co) & Mary 'Maria' Lonorgan. Per later recorded 'Baptism Omissions' he was 'said' to have been born at, Georgetown, Madras, India, on 31 July 1887, and baptised on 20 April 1912. On, 7 November 1906, at, St Matthias' Church, Vepery, Madras, Patrick married Ida Louise Upshon (29). At the time of his marriage his age was shown as 22 years (sic), and he was described as having been employed as 'Late Warder'. During the Great War Patrick served overseas from India, during which conflict his regimental number was 1881, and he held the rank of Sergeant. For his services during the Great War he was to be issued his medals by the Government of India (his extant Medal Index Card held at the National Archives refers, reference WO 372/27/1315). Patrick Lonorgan, described as a 'Railway Storekeeper' is recorded to have died of a 'Heart Attack' at the Madras General Hospital, on, 7 May 1927, at which time he was described as 39 years & 10 months of age, and was buried on the same day as his death at, St. Mary's Cathedral. Patrick Lonorgan had one daughter, Helen Marie Lonorgan, who was born circa 1910, and who married at Bangalore on, 11 March 1932, to John Cline, a 'Locomotive Fitter Chargehand' resident at Bhusawal

11th (Madras) Field Brigade. 'The Duke's Own', Royal Artillery, A.F.I.: The origins of the unit can be traced to 1 January 1879, when the unit was formed under the title Madras Artillery Volunteers 'The Duke's Own'. The subsequent chronology of names changes of the descendent unit were:

- 1917: 2nd (Madras) Group, Garrison Artillery, 'The Duke's Own', I.D.F.
- 1920: Madras Royal Garrison Artillery, 'The Duke's Own', A.F.I.
- 1924: II (Madras) Brigade Royal Field Artillery, 'The Duke's Own', A.F.I.
- 1925: II (Madras) Field Brigade, R.A., 'The Duke's Own', A.F.I.
- 1933: No. 3 (Madras) Field Battery, R.A., 'The Duke's Own', A.F.I.
- 1941: Madras Coast Battery, R.A., 'The Duke's Own', A.F.I.

The regiment was stood down on, 14 August 1947

Condition: GVF

Code: 24474