medal code j3437

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A REGIMENTALLY UNIQUE CHINA 1900 AND AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE PAIR AWARDED TO A MAJOR OF THE 122ND RAJPUTANA INFANTRY WHO WAS ATTACHED TO THE 102ND PRINCE OF WALES’ OWN GRENADIERS IN SOMALILAND

CHINA 1900, NO CLASP ‘CAPTN: H. H. NURSE. 22D BO: INFY’; AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE 1902-56, 1 CLASP, SOMALILAND 1902-04 ‘CAPT: H. H. NURSE. 122ND RAJPUT: INFTY:’ mounted as originally worn.

H. H. Nurse was commissioned second lieutenant in the Indian Army in 1888, and advanced to captain in 1897. He featured in the Bury and Norwich Post, 31 July 1900:

‘Troops have now been selected for duty in China, and one of the first regiments chosen, on account of its efficiency, was the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry. Bury can claim an officer in this regiment, who has arrived at Hong Kong, in the person of Captain H. H. Nurse, a well-known Bury man, being a son of Mrs F. W. King of St. Mary’s Square [and brother of the Reverend Euston J. Nurse]. The regiment arrived on the 23rd to reinforce and garrison the town of Hong Kong with the aid of the 3rd Madras Native Infantry. Captain Nurse received his education at King Edward’s School, Bury St. Edmund’s, from which school he took the Exhibition of St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a classical scholarship, and took his B.A. degree before he entered the army in the year 1887.

Captain Nurse has been both quarter master and adjutant of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, and has been successful in winning a number of prizes for revolver shooting in India. He has also held the position of examiner in Oriental languages at Quetta.... When ordered out to China he was serving as station staff officer at Indore, when the regiment marched to Calcutta from a very short notice.’

Captain Nurse, with one Jemadar and 27 other ranks of the 122nd Rajputana Infantry, subsequently proceeded on service to the Aden Hinterland in 1903. The Jemadar and the 27 other ranks were attached to the Poona Mounted Infantry, and also received the ‘Jidballi’ clasp. Nurse was attached for service with the 102nd Prince of Wales’ Own Grenadiers - and as such his single clasp medal would appear to be regimentally unique to his parent unit.

Nurse advanced to major in 1904, and retired in February 1908. He volunteered to act as a recruitment officer in 1914, and served in this capacity 5 August - 7 September 1914, before poor health forced him to relinquish his role (awarded Silver War Badge).

Condition NVF, obverse and reverse polished, last unique to Regiment. Sold with copied research, including photographic images of recipient in later life.

Code J3437        Price £ SOLD