An Officer & former Regimental Drum-Major's Civil Gallantry, Military Long Service & Army Temperance medals group of 9: Captain James Grigor, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers
- Military LS&GC, EDVII issue. With silver buckle (3701 C. Sjt. J. Grigor. K.O.S.B.)
- Royal Humane Society. Bronze with buckle (Sergt Drummer J. Grigor. "K.O.S Borderers" 15th August 1892)
- Army Temperance Association: Award of Merit. With brooch bar (Sergt. J. Grigor 1st K.O. Scottish Bord. 1898)
- Army Temperance Association: 15 Year Medal. Silver with gilt centre. 1st type
- Army Temperance Association: 12 Year Medal. Silver & enamel. With Indian Elephant in centre.
- Army Temperance Association: 10 Year Medal. Silver (sans top ornate suspension)
- Army Temperance Association: 7 Year Medal. Silver
- Army Temperance Association: 5 Year Medal. Silver & enamel
- Army Temperance Association: 3 Year Medal. Star of India 'Heavens Light Our Guide'. Silver
Important: Reference 'A Guide to Military Temperance Medals' ( David A. Harris, Second Edition, 2006), from annual temperance society reports it is estimated that only an estimated 261 x 'Awards of Merit' were issued in the period 1893-1904 (in which latter year the design of ATA medal changed, to reflect the name change to Royal Army Temperance Association, that had been bestowed in 1902). In the period 1893-1901, only 48 x awards of the 15 Year Medal - an especially rare medal - are believed to have been awarded in that period. How many of those 48 x medals were of the 1st type design, is not known. However, it is worth noting that the author only had a sketch drawing of a first type 15 Year Medal available to him when he first published his work, with the same drawing being carried over into the revised second edition!
Sold together with:
- British Army: Victorian era a positively attributed 'Drum-Majors' (or, Sergeant-Drummer). 'Drum' insignia comprising a gilt bullion wire on cloth British Army trade badge
From the Annual Report of the Royal Humane Society, 1892, 'Case No. 26243, August 1892', it is recorded that a Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal was awarded to Sergt. Drmr. J. Grigor, K.O.Scottish Borderers;
Quote,
At great personal risk, rescued William English from drowning at Devonport, on the 13th August, 1892
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The specific circumstances of the award of the Royal Humane Society to Sergeant-Drummer Grigor, was published in several British Newspapers in December 1892, including the St. James's Gazette issue of, 28 December 1892;
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GALLANTRY IN SAVING LIFE
HUMANE SOCIETY'S REWARDS
The Royal Humane Society has announced the bestowal of its medals and other rewards for distinguished gallantry in saving life for the following cases brought under its notice for this month, and duly investigated by the committee for the society. The medal and certificate to Sergeant-Drummer J. Grigor, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, for plunging into the sea at Devonport, fully dressed and in several fathoms of water, thirty yards from the shore, rescuing W. English, who sank while bathing.
Unquote.
Medals verification: The recipient did not earn or receive any campaign medals during his long service career. The recipients entitlement to the Military LS&GC and Royal Humane Society awards are cited below:
- Military Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: Army Order No. 77 of April 1908, Rank shown as Colour Sergeant
- Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal For Saving Life (Successful): Royal Humane Society Case No. 26423, published in RHS Annual Report 1892
The Hawick News issue of 15 December 1933 contained the below following obituary to the late Captain James Grigor:
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DEATH OF A WELL KNOWN BORDERER
Captain John R. Grigor, a familiar figure at Border gatherings, died on Saturday morning at the Lucy Sanderson Cottage Homes, Galashiels. Captain Grigor who was a native of Inverness and nearly seventy years of age enlisted in the King's Own Scottish Borderers while serving an apprenticeship in Galashiels, and saw over twenty-one years service in the Colours. much of his time being spent with the regiment in India. He attained to the rank of drum sergeant-major, and acted for some time as drill instructor with the Territorials at Norham and Galashiels, before being appointed head-janitor and caretaker of the Scottish Woollen Technical College at Galashiels. As drum-major of the Galashiels Ex-Service Pipe Band his soldierly figure was familiar for nearly twenty years at sports and other outdoor gatherings. He is survived by his widow and a son and daughter
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The recipients service papers - an excellent set including his hand-written letter about his Great War / Recruiting service as a Commissioned Officer - are extant and accessible at The National Archives
From the recipients service papers covering his military career (27 years 1011 days) prior to the Great War, the below following is his service history by location:
- Home: 17/11/1881 - 03/01/1883 (1 year & 48 days)
- India: 04/01/1883 - 02/11/1889 (6 years & 303 days)
- Burma: 03/11/1889 - 06/02/1891 (1 year & 96 days)
- Home: 07/02/1891 - 25/02/1909 (18 years & 19 days)
Important: For details of the respective Temperance Medals in this group, refer to 'A Guide to Military Temperance Medals' ( David A. Harris, Second Edition, 2006),which remains the standard reference source on British Military & Naval 'Temperance' medals, and provides much useful information including where known estimated numbers of medals issued
A most splendid and unusual combination of medals, including one exceptionally rare 15 Year 'Temperance' medal, to a well known and long serving 'Borderer'
Condition: Mostly about GVF
Code: 24590