A very scarce regimental campaign 'Casualty' & long service medal pair to the Rifle Brigade for the 'Ashantee Campaign' 1873-74: Colour Sergeant Thomas Pilcher, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade

-
Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (1994. Pte T. Pilcher. 2. Bn Rifle Bde. 1873-4)
- Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. Victorian issue (6127. Sergt T. Pilcher. Rif: Brig:)

Wounded-in-Action: Private Pilcher is confirmed 'Wounded-in-Action' at the Battle of Amoaful, on 31 January 1874. The wound described as 'Gunshot wound of arm: Severe' on during the Ashantee Campaign. The casualty list published in the London Gazette issue of 6 March 1874 refers, and lists 5 x 'other-ranks' of the 2nd Rifle Brigade, wounded

Reference The History of the Rifle Brigade ...’, by Sir William H. Cope, it is stated that of the 33 x officers and 652 x men of the 2nd Battalion who landed at Cape Coast Castle in 1873 fit for duty, 27 officers and 473 men returned to England in a fit condition. The difference was mainly due to sickness, with only 3 officers and 30 other ranks being wounded and just 2 other ranks dying of wounds

Medals & Clasp Verification:

- Ashantee 1873-74 clasp 'Coomassie': WO 100/44, shown as serving at Gibraltar when medal roll compiled
- Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. Victorian issue: Awarded 21 May 1889 - the recipients service papers refer

Thomas Pilcher was a native of the parish of Hatfield, Hertford. Hertfordshire, England, where he was born circa in 1843. Thomas, who was a 'Grocer' by trade, was 27 years of age when he attested for the British Army at Dover, England on, 23 November 1870. He was posted to 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade and given the regimental number 1994. After campaign service in the Gold Coast, where he was wounded by gunshot, he was promoted to Corporal on 20 June 1874,. Subsequent promotions occurred on; 2 February 1800 to Acting Sergeant; 7 February 1881 to Sergeant; 15 November 1882 to Colour-Sergeant. By the time he took his final discharge from the British Army on 29 July 1890, Colour-Sergeant had accumulated 19 years 249 days service 'With the Colours'. His record of service was;

- Home: 23/11/1870 - 20/11/1873 (2 years 363 days)
- Gold Coast: 21/11/1873 - 26/03/1874 (126 days)
- Home: 27/03/1874 - 16/11/1874 (235 days)
- Gibraltar: 17/11/1874 - 20/12/1880 (6 years 34 days)
- Home: 21/12/1880 - 29/07/1890 (9 years 221 day

These medals are the full, and only medal entitlement of Colour-Sergeant Thomas Pilcher, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade

The recipients service papers - which confirm the use of both regimental numbers (1994 for pre-1881 service, and 6127 for post-1881 service) are extant and accessible in the WO/97 file series at The National Archives

A desirable and very scarce regimental medal pair to a casualty of the Ashantee Campaign

Condition: About GVF

Code: 25495