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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 38

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Samana 1891 (4985 Pte. J. Astle 1st Bn. K. R. Rif. C.), contact marks, very fine

Further entitled to a Clasp for Hazara 1891.

James Astle was born at Heanar, Derbyshire in 1868 and enlisted with the King's Royal Rifle Corps in Derby on 23 February 1889. Posted to the 1st Battalion in India in 1890 he was still there for the expeditions in 1891 against the Hazra tribes and the Iazai (Samana) expedition that same year. Later he was also present for the Relief of Chitral in 1895 (medal and clasp).

Returning to Britain after over six years in India it was not long before Astle was posted to South Africa. Here he saw Boer War service although strangely - while his name appears on a QSA medal roll with clasps for Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith and Belfast - there is no mention of this on his service records. Invalided from South Africa on 30 July 1901, he was discharged from the Regimental Depot on 5 December of that year. Astle appears in the Royal Hospital Chelsea discharge book, suggesting he was later a Chelsea Pensioner.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£70