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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 798

The interesting L.S. & G.C. Medal awarded to Private J. Hallas, 6th Regiment of Foot (Royal Warwickshire Regiment), who qualified for the award despite being marked with a 'D' for desertion, his name appearing 13 times in the Regimental Defaulter's book, and being tried twice by Court Martial

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (1890 Jas. Hallas. 1st Batt. 6th Foot), small letter reverse, very fine

James Hallas was born in Leeds, Yorkshire in about 1821 and initially made his living there as a cloth dresser. When he was seventeen, Hallas attested with the 6th Regiment of Foot on 27 March 1841. He was to embark on a twenty-three-year career in the Army, nearly half of which was spent overseas: eleven years at the Cape of Good Hope and ten months in the East Indies.

However, just one year into his service the young Hallas must have regretted his decision to join up as he deserted on 6 April 1842. He later rejoined on 10 December, whereupon he was tried by Court Martial and sentenced to three months' imprisonment and was marked with a 'D' for his desertion. Released on 10 March 1843, Hallas behaved himself for the next few years until again finding himself being tried by Court Martial early in 1846. This must have been a lesser offence than desertion, as he was sentenced only to serve ten days' imprisonment, which began on 2 February.

Perhaps learning the error of his ways, Hallas's behaviour reformed itself and he was granted Good Conduct pay on no less than five occasions in October 1850, March 1853, April 1857, April 1860 and April 1863. His period of service which had been forfeited as a result of his desertion was also restored in 1857. Hallas received his L.S. & G.C. medal and a £5 gratuity on 28 May 1864.

A year after receiving his medal, Hallas was discharged at his own request and with pension at Devonport on 22 May 1865. His discharge document notes his good conduct, but also makes mention of his desertion, two Court Martials, as well as the fact that Hallas appeared on thirteen occasions in the Regimental Defaulter's book. One imagines it was no easy feat to earn a medal for good conduct with such a record; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£50