A rare, possibly unique, long serving British Officer's campaign, long service and 'Best Shot' medal group of 10: Captain Henry Lewis Reynolds, Indian Miscellaneous List late 18th Hussars

- India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Sergt. H. L. Reynolds Bl. Unattd. List.)
- 1914-15 Star (Lt. & Asst Comsy H. L. Reynolds. I.M.L.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (Capt. H. L. Reynolds.)
- Interallied Victory Medal. With Mention-in-Despatches 'Oakleaves' emblem (Capt. H. L. Reynolds.)
- Military LS&GC Medal. EVII issue (Condtr. H. L. Reynolds India Misc List)
- Volunteer Long Service Medal (India & Colonies). GV issue (Captn H. L. Reynolds Nilgiri Vol Rfls)

Sold together with the below following 4 x Provincial Best Shot' medals of the generic Indian Volunteers:

- Volunteers Provincial Best Shot Medal. With bar 'Punjab' (1906-07 Sergt H. L. Reynolds, Simla Volunteer Rifles)
- Volunteers Provincial Best Shot Medal. With bar 'Madras, Mysore & Hyderabad' (1908-09 Sergt H. L. Reynolds, Nilgiri Volunteer Rifles)
- Volunteers Provincial Best Shot Medal. With bar 'Madras, Mysore & Hyderabad' (1910-11 Sergeant H. L. Reynolds, Nilgiri Volunteer Rifles, 63 Points)
- Volunteers Provincial Best Shot Medal. With bar 'Madras, Mysore & Hyderabad' (1912-13 Cr. Sgt. H. L. Reynolds, Nilgiri Volunteer Rifles, 42 Points)

Medals and Clasp Verification: All the campaign and long service medals confirmed as entitled per the below following cited official sources:

- IGS 1895 with clasp 'ROC': Ref 'War Services' Indian Army List 1919, action of the Malakand Pass, action at Khar, medal & clasp
- 1914-15 Star: MIC shows rank Lt star to be issued by Government of India. Entered Mesopotamia 23/04/15
- British War Medal. Silver issue: MIC shows rank Capt to be issued by Government of India
- Interallied Victory Medal: MIC shows rank of Capt, to be issued by Government of India
- Mention-in-Despatches 'Oakleaves' emblem: Published in London Gazette issue of 19 October 1916
- Military LS&GC Medal. EVII issue: India Army Order No. 560 of 1908
- Volunteer Long Service Medal (India & Colonies). GV issue: Indian Army Order 485 of 1914

Additionally the recipient was awarded a Delhi Durbar Medal 1911, silver issue, per the respective Delhi Durbar medal roll (ref WO 100/400), where under the Indian Miscellaneous List awardees he is shown as Conductor, Head Clerk 9th Division

Henry Lewis Renolds, son of Thomas Lewis Reynolds (a Schoolmaster) & Harriet Reynolds (nee Cooke) was a native of, Laxton, Nottinghamshire, England, where he was born on, 17 December 1865. By trade a clerk, he attested for the British Army at Manchester on, 31 January 1890, and was posted to the 18th Hussars. As a Lance Corporal he transferred to the Bengal Unattached List in India, on 20 October 1894. Raised Sergeant at Simla, Reynolds was allocated to the administration of the local Volunteer Rifles. In 1895, he served during the Relief of Chitral with the Bengal Unattached List. He was promoted Sub Conductor, 27 July 1896, and raised Conductor on, 15 February 1905

Reynolds, a qualified marksman, was a prolific and highly successful competition 'shooter', winning no less than 4 x 'Provincial Best Shot' medals, that were exclusively awarded to Indian Volunteer units - these highly prestigious awards were competed for and presented annually, amongst the volunteers of the respective regional 'Army Commands' in British India. Reynolds, may have been unique - and if not unique, then certainly highly exceptional - in having won his Provincial Best Shot awards split over two different volunteer units in two different regional Army Commands viz 'Punjab' (1 x medal, while serving with ), and 'Madras. Mysore & Hyderabad' (3 x medals, while serving with Nilgiri Volunteer Rifles.). Prior to the Great War Conductor Reynolds was posted to the 9th (Secunderabad) Division in the Southern Army, and sent to Ootacamund as Head Clerk in the Divisional Staff Office. Commissioned Assistant Commissary (Honorary Lieutenant) 1 April 1913, and Captain in the Nilgiri Volunteers 1 January 1914, he was awarded the Volunteer Force LSGC Medal under Indian Army Order 485 of 7 September 1914

Sent to Mesopotamia on 23 April 1915, Reynolds was fortunate to not fall into enemy hands at the surrender of Kut on 29 September 1916. Serving with Force D, he was Mentioned in the Despatch of Sir Percy Lake from Basrah, dated 24 August 1916. An earlier despatch, dated 12 August 1916, noted: ‘I wish to record my appreciation of the valuable work performed by the Officers of General Headquarters and my personal Staff, to whom I am much indebted for their loyal assistance on all occasions’

Henry Lewis Reynolds, took the decision to settle in British India. In 1903, he married Winifred Clemons Stanley Potter at Mhow, Central India. The couple were subsequently blessed with six (6 x) children all born in India, born variously between 1903-1921 comprising 5 x sons and 3 x daughters. Henry was residing with his family at Bangalore, India, when he died there on, 25 May 1930 , His widow and children subsequently re-located to the United Kindom thereafter

Sold together with some hard copied research, including respective Medal Index Card and Indian Army Order for the 2 x long service medals

A rare and desirable India service group including an impressive array of 4 x Provincial Best Shot medals

Condition: Mostly about GVF

Code: 24567