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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 111

A poignant India General Service medal awarded to Private W. Hoy, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who was discharged 'insane' in 1898

India General Service 1895-1908, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-1898, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (3187 Pte. W. Hoy 1st Bn North'n Regt.), suspension loose, minor contact wear, very fine

Walter Hoy was born at Stratford Essex in 1872 and worked as a carman prior to enlisting at Aldershot on 26 June 1891 with the 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. Posted to India with this unit on 4 October 1892 he was to serve there for the next five years, seeing a great deal of service on the North-West Frontier. His report from the medical board on 7 January 1898 reads:

‘The Board concurs with the above report and is of the opinion Pte. Walter Hoy is a harmless insane who can be retained at his station until he can proceed to Bombay.
One attendant is sufficient on the homeward voyage.
The Board recommends his discharge as permanently unfit for further service.
The above Walter Hoy is of unsound mind and a fit subject for a lunatic asylum.’

Unfortunately for Hoy his only family was a brother with his own family and unlikely to try and take him on. It is likely that he ended his days in an asylum; sold together with copied service records.

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Sold for
£270

Starting price
£80