Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. EDVII issue (197 Gnr: Jiwan Singh. H.K.-S. Bn. R.G.A.)

The recipient Jiwan Singh was an Indian soldier of the Sikh faith holding the rank of Gunner while serving with the Hong Kong and Singapore Battalion, Royal Garrison Artillery of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army

Medal(s) & Clasp Verification: Gunner Jiwan Singh is confirmed entitled to the below following campaign and long service medals per the respective cited medal roll and authority:

- China Medal 1900. With clasp 'Relief of Peking': Recipients extant service papers in file series WO97 refer
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: Army Order No 73 of 1910

The recipients service papers (a very detailed set) are extant and accessible at The National Archives

Jiwan Singh was a native of, Sur Singh, located near Lahore, Punjab, British India (now located in Pakistan), where he was born in 1870. He was described as a 'Farmer' when he enlisted in the 'Asiatic Artillery' of British Army at  Hong Kong Colony, on 24 September 1891. The Asiatic Artillery was later restyled as the Singapore Battalion Royal Garrison Artillery of the British Army. Jiwan Singh was a model soldier, and subsequently served a total of  21 years & 1 day with 'The Colours'. Gunner Jiwan Singh took his final discharge from the British Army, at Mauritius, on, 24 September 1912. His character and military conduct were described in one word 'Exemplary'. During his 21 years service, Jiwan served all the localities across the Far East, South East Asia and the Indian Ocean region, where the Hong Kong and Singapore Battalion of the British Army served:

- Hong Kong: 24/09/1891 - 14/03/1902 (10 years 172 days) - this includes service in China during Boxer Rebellion 1900
- Singapore: 15/03/1902 - 29/03/1908 (6 years 15 days)
- Hong Kong: 30/03/1908 - 24/02/1911 (2 years 332 days)
- Mauritius: 25/02/1911 - 24/09/1912 (1 year 212 days)

Boxer Rebellion 1900: Jiwan's service papers show that he served on active-service with the 'North China Field Force' between June-October 1900, for which he received the award of the China 1900 Medal with clasp 'Relief of Peking' 

An outstanding - and very scarce - example of a Sikh Gunner's LS&GC medal to a soldier who enlisted in the Asiatic Artillery of the British Army, and subsequently served with the Hong Kong and Singapore Battalion of the Royal Garrison Artillery in Hong Kong, China (Boxer Rebellion), Singapore and Mauritius

Condition: GVF  

Code: 25440