India General Service 1854-95. Silver issue with clasp 'Burma 1885-7 (12876. Sergt. W. Hurlock. R.E.) 

Died on active service Burma 1886: Sergeant Walter Hurlock is confirmed to have died on active service at, Kinghat, Upper Burma, on 16 July 1886 (Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette issue of 9 October 1886, refers)

In accordance with British and Indian Army protocols at the time, the body of Sergeant Walter Hurlock would have been laid to rest in Upper Burma, and would not have been repatriated to India

British Army Returns for Deaths Occurring in 1886, show his death registered by his 'Station', at Bangalore (India) which was for administrative reasons only (Bangalore being the Regimental Centre for the Queens Own Sappers & Miners, and hence Sergeant Hurlock's reporting station for records purposes)

Medal & Clasp Verification: Medal & clasp are both confirmed as entitled per the regimental medal roll of British Officers & NCO's of the Queens Own Madras Sappers & Miners referenced below. This medal & clasp was the recipient's only medal entitlement

- IGS 1854 & clasp 'Burma 1885-7': WO 100/69. Dated Bangalore, 17/08/1887. Showing all R.E.'s with Queens Own Madras Sappers & Miners, Burma 1885-7

Walter Hurlock, son of Henry Hurlock (a 'Mason') and Elizabeth Sarah Hurlock (nee Cooper) was a native of, Gosport, Hampshire, England where he was born circa 1855. At the time of the compilation of the 1871 National Census for England & Wales, Walter is recorded therein employed as a 'Mason' and residing with his widower father, and elder brother Stephen Hurlock (a Mariner) living at the family residence located at, Whites Slip, Ferrol Terrace, Gosport, Hampshire, England. Walter is reported to have joined the British Army, when he attested for the Royal Engineers on 5 January 1875. Walter married Jane Mary Davison, at Medway, Kent, England sometime during the fourth quarter of 1876, and the couple were blessed with a son, Walter Stephen Hurlock who was born in England in 1877. Walter's first overseas posting was to Bermuda, where sadly his young toddler son, Stephen, died at  Ireland Island, Sandys Parish, Bermuda, on 15 July 1878. Walter's next overseas posting was to Malta, where a daughter, Ada E. Hurlock was born at St. Francis, Malta in 1880. While in Malta  Walter is recorded still serving holding the rank of Sapper and serving with 12th Company Royal Engineers. The British Army World Wide Index for April-May 1881, shows Sapper Hurlock in-transit on the Transport 'Holland' between Malta to Chatham, United Kingdom (see file series WO 16/946). However, Walter's stay in the United Kingdom was destined to be a short one of only a few months, as on 27 December 1881, he embarked for British India aboard H.M.T. 'Crocodile'

Shortly after his arrival in British India, Walter's military career progressed with promotions and posting on attachment as a European NCO serving with the highly distinguished Queens Own Sappers and Miners of the Madras Presidency Army, that was based at Bangalore Cantonment, located in the Carnatic region of South India. In Bangalore, Walter was joined by his wife, and the couple were blessed with the birth of  3 x children, all daughters, all born at Bangalore Cantonment, and where they were all baptized at St. John's Church, Bangalore. The children were in order; Jane Elizabeth Charlotte Hurlock, born 5 March 1882, baptized on, 12 April 1882. At the time of Jane's baptism her father is shown holding the rank of 2nd Corporal in the Royal Engineers; Maud Martha May Hurlock, born 1 March 1884, was baptized 26 March 1884. At the time of Maud's baptism, her father was holding the rank of Corporal in the Royal Engineers; Blanche Winifred Hurlock was born on 23 March 1886 and she was baptized on 14 April 1886. At the time of Winifred's birth, her father is recorded as Sergeant Walter Hurlock of the Queen's Own Sappers & Miners

A choice example medal to a Burma Campaign casualty

Condition: EF

Code: 26161