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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 62

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (1279 Pte. J. McCabe 2nd Btn. Som. L.I.), suspension slack, light contact marks, otherwise very fine

James McCabe was born at Killalia, Armagh in Ireland circa 1856 and made his living as a labourer. McCabe enlisted for service with the 36th Brigade at Newcastle on Tyne on 4 April 1877, two months shy of his 22nd birthday. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's), he found himself quickly stationed overseas and was sent to Malta with his Regiment in July 1877.

They were not to remain in Malta for even a full year and were embarked directly for India aboard the troopship H.M.S. Jumna in February 1878, arriving at Bellary, India the following month. McCabe was to remain in India for the next decade, spending most of that time at Bellary but also in Kamptee, Port Blair, Rangoon, Myotha and Belgaum. A few years into his service in India, he was tried for drunkenness and sentenced to imprisonment for about a month from January- February 1883. A few years later, McCabe again landed himself in trouble for being caught sleeping on his post. Again subject to a trial, he was imprisoned for a longer period from October 1886 through 1 January 1887.

The duration of his decade in India was marked by near constant sickness. Ill-suited to the climate, McCabe's medical report shows he suffered from numerous illnesses, including dyspepsia, ague, gonorrhoea, bronchitis, and primary and secondary syphilis on a near constant basis.

It is small wonder that McCabe was discharged at his own request immediately upon returning home in May 1889 after his suffering abroad. Regardless, the reason for his discharge was cited as the termination of his limited period of engagement. MCabe intended to live in Glasgow after leaving the service; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£60