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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 221

The rare M.S.M. pair awarded to Colour Sergeant T. Hunter, 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment of Foot, later 3rd (Stirlingshire Militia) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who served for an astonishing 42 years with the Regulars and the Permanent Establishment of the Militia

Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Sjt. Maj: T. Hunter. 35th: Foot:); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (1780 Cr Serjt Thos Hunter 35th Foot.), edge bruise to second, otherwise good very fine (2)

Thomas Hunter was born at Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland in 1826 and worked as a weaver before enlisting into the 93rd Regiment of Foot on 6 January 1844 - but later transferred to the 35th Regiment on 1 July 1844. Advanced Corporal on 1 February 1849 while stationed in Ireland, he married Margaret McCarthy that same year.

Advanced Sergeant on 12 June 1852, Hunter later volunteered for service in the Crimean War but did not serve. His and Margaret's daughter was born in London in 1855. Advanced Colour-Sergeant the next year on 1 December 1856 he lost and regained the position twice over the next four years. Finding himself in India in 1861 Hunter injured himself 'from the exertion of the march from Agra to the Plain in 1862' and was finally discharged on 20 October 1864 at Hyderabad.

Returning to Britain he joined the Permanent Staff of the 3rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Netley on 4 April 1865. Settling in Stirling, Scotland in 1871 he was advanced Sergeant-Major with the Battalion in April 1880. Hunter died at Stirling in January 1903, his death was reported in The Dundee Evening Telegraph on 8 January 1903, which states:

'"VETERAN STIRLING SOLDIER DEAD",

There have passed away at Stirling within the past few days 3 veteran soldiers who have seen much action.

Sergeant-Major Thomas Hunter, of the Stirlingshire Militia, who passed away in his 75th Year, belonged to a family of 7 sons, all of whom served in the army, while his father was also a soldier, and his mother was a soldier's daughter. After 21 years in the Royal Sussex Regiment, he transferred with the rank of Colour-Sergeant to the Permanent Staff of the 3rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was promoted to be Sergeant-Major in April 1880, and served in that position for over 6 years. His term of army life extended over the long period of 42 years and 7 months. Sergeant-Major Hunter in his later years took a deep interest in The Boy's Brigade movement.'

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480