India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (716. Vol. A. MacDonald Rangoon Vol. Rifles.)

One of only 14 x medals and clasps awarded to the Rangoon Volunteers

The only Burma Volunteers to serve in the Third Burmese War were Volunteers from the Mounted Detachment of Rangoon Volunteer Rifles (x 8), and the Rangoon Artillery Volunteers (x 6), who had served with the composite Mounted Infantry unit during the Burma Campaign 1885-87

A fine illustration of the volunteers with war trophies was published in the 'Graphic' issue , during which they had the distinction of providing the mounted detachment that after the formal surrender by the defeated King Thibaw, in November 1885, escorted the deposed King and his royal entourage, to board the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company steamer 'Thooreah' that conveyed subsequently the Burmese Royal family from Mandalay to Rangoon and eventual exile.....

For the single best summary of the history and services of the small 'Rangoon Volunteers' detachment see the lengthy article that was published in the 'Scotsman newspaper issue of 3 April 1888 - too lengthy to here copy, but which includes mention of the medal recipient here offered.

Illustration: See the 'Graphic' newspaper issue of 19 June 1886, for a fine sketch illustration (based on a photograph) titled 'Rangoon Mounted Company of Volunteers who took part in the expedition to Mandalay', showing  9 x soldiers the 8 x 'Other-Ranks' wearing Norfolk jackets, riding breeches, together with leather riding boots and with slung 'loaded' bandoliers. together with their regular army officers (presumably Lt Couchman of the Somerset's). In the foreground and either side are displayed trophies of war captured in their fighting

Fortunately - another more general account of the Third Burmese War - was written by the commanding officer of the Mounted Infantry per his published book ref  'The coming of the great queen : a narrative of the acquisition of Burma' (Major Edmond Charles Browne, Royal Scots Fusiliers. 1888). The book, which has numerous references to the Rangoon Mounted Volunteers (14 other-ranks who served under a British regular  officer Captain Couchman), is readily downloadable from the internet. The book includes a photograph of Captain Couchman, together with all 14 x Rangoon Volunteers - including the medal recipient  A. MacDonald - mounted on their Burmese ponies!

The recipient, of Scottish ethnicity, ethnicity, held the regimental number 716, while serving with the Rangoon Volunteer Rifles

Thackers Directory issue of 1898 lists an 'A. MacDonald', a Forestry Assistant, employed with the Bombay-Burma Trading Corporation Ltd (Timber Merchants) who resided at Strand Road, Monywa, Lower Chindwin, Burma

Rangoon Volunteer Rifle Corps: The Rangoon Volunteer Rifle Corps was raised in 1877 at the request of the Viceroy, Lord Lytton. Over 120 men answered the call for volunteers and the unit was officially sanctioned by the Government of India on 13 November 1877. A mounted company of the unit was formed in November 1884.

Having amalgamated with the Akyab Volunteer Rifle Corps in 1880 and the Toungoo Volunteer Rifles Corps in 1885, the auxiliary unit became the 18th Rangoon Battalion in 1917, part of the Indian Defence Force. In 1937 the unit became part of the Burma Auxiliary Force, when Burma separated from India.

An extremely rare to unit medal named to the Rangoon Volunteer Rifles

Condition: About EF 

Code: 26084