1st Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Regimental ‘Best Shot of Battalion’ Medal. Silver (not H/M). Reverse engraved (Lce Sgt J Blud.)

A large and finely struck medal

Metal: Silver (not hallmarked)

Weight: 55g

Dimension: 46mm

Obverse: In centre regimental insignia of the King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry, surrounded by the regimental Battle Honours to 1912 with Crown on top. Surrounding the centre the die cast legend says '1st Btn King's Own Shropshire Lt Inty; and below the Roman numerals 'XIII'

Reverse: The die struck design consists in centre of an open laurel wreath / branches with ties and bows below and a crown above, in the centre of the wreath is engraved the recipients rank and name 'Lce Sgt J Blud' and around the reverse is engraved 'Best Shot of Battalion 1912' and below 'Score 158'

Suspension: A pierced ball mount with solid silver ring hanger for riband

The recipient was No. 7527 Lance-Sergeant John Blud, who was a long serving Musketry Instructor with 1st Battalion King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry (while serving with 1/KSLI overseas in India 1923-24, he held the appointment of Company Sergeant Major Instructor of Musketry (or, C.S.M.I.M.).  John Blud was later decorated during the Great War with the Military Medal for bravery in the field, as well as being Mentioned-in-Despatches.

Medals Verification: No medal rolls for the regimental medal exist in the public domain, but as it was an annual award the medal here offered is the unique award for 1912. For his other services, Blud is known to have been entitled to the below following medals, per the references cited. His full medal entitlement may include other medals:

- Military Medal: Published in London Gazette issue of, 3 June 1916. An award for France
- 1914 Star with dated bar: WO 329/2467. Disembarked France 10 September 1914
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1470 shows held appointment / rank Acting WO II / Acting CSM
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/1470 shows held appointment / rank Acting WO II / Acting CSM
- Mention-in-Despatches: Published in London Gazette issue of 1 January 1916
- Regimental Best Shot Medal 1st Battalion King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry: Awarded 1912

John Blud, son of William Blud (a Postman) and Mary Blud (nee Owen), was a native of Shifnal, Shropshire, England, where he was born on 25 August 1885 (The 1939 National Register refers). At the time of the compilation of the 1901 National Census for England & Wales, John is recorded being 15 years of age and employed as a Clerk with a Railway Company and living at home with his parents and siblings. John's regimental number indicates that he enlisted sometime in 1903, at which time he joined his local infantry regiment, The King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry, After completion of his basic training he was posted to the 1st Battalion of the K.S.L.I., with which battalion he served many years as a professional soldier. He was for many years a highly distinguished expert rifleman and latterly 'Instructor of Musketry' in the battalion. The Hampshire Post issue of 14 September 1906 describes John Blud's prowess with the rifle, at which time he won the Aldershot Camp Rifle Meeting, while serving with 'F' Company of his battalion, and reported to be the 'Best Shot' in his battalion. There are numerous other mentions of John Blud in the newspapers of the 1912-1920 era, By the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register for England & Wales, John was living at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, at which time he is shown as employed as 'Instructor' Officers Training Corps

This sale is for the medal and riband only. The sale does not include the cigarette card depicting the Military Medal, which has only here been shown and used as an illustrative 'prop'

A superb - and impressive - example of a regimental medal awarded to the infantry of the line of the pre 1914 British Army

Condition: About EF

Code: 25439