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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 39

(x) Three: Colonel A. Poole, 5th Bombay Infantry

Abyssinia 1867 (Lieut. A. Poole. 25th Bo. N.L.I.), unofficially re-engraved naming; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Major A. Poole 5th Bo. N.L.I.), unofficially re-engraved naming; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (Lieutt. Colonel A. Poole. 5th Bo: Infy.), very fine (3)

Arthur Poole was born on 8 April 1841. The Poole Family gives good detail on the reasons for the first two Medals having been re-engraved:

'When returning from India in the P. & O. steamer Tasmania, on the 18th April 1887, the ship was wrecked on the Monachi Rocks, off Corsica, and all his belongings, including Medals, documents etc were lost.'

Thus it seems beyond reasonable doubt that the original issues of the first two sit at the bottom of the Mediterranean, whilst the last was sent upon his safe arrival home. The medals of his father, Major Skeffington Poole, of the Honourable East India Company, were sold as Lot 520 in our May 2023 e-Auction of Orders, Decorations and Medals.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£400

Starting price
£320