A ‘Tirah’ 1898 D.C.M. group of four awarded to Colour Sergeant W. Milton, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (C: Sgt. W. Milton. K: O: S: B’drs); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888 (2261. L/Corpl. W. Milton. 2/K.O..Bords.); India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (2261 Sergt. W. Milton 2nd Bn. K.O. Sco: Bord:), with contemporary clasp carriage links between 1st and 2nd clasps; Khedive’s Star, undated, unnamed as issued, contact marks, generally nearly very fine (4) £3800-4200

Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, May 1993.

D.C.M. submitted to the Queen 9 July 1898 (Army Order 135 of 1898).

William Milton was born in Aberdeen, and was a watchmaker by trade. He attested for the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in March 1887. Milton served with the 2nd Battalion at both Gemaizah and on the North West Frontier of India, where the Regiment, as part of the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Division of the Tirah Expeditionary Force was in action no fewer than 23 times, including the capture of the Dargai Heights, in the Sampazh and Arhanza Passes, the Tirah and Bara Valleys, and at Bagh and the Shinkanar Pass, and also in many rearguard engagements. 7 men of the regiment were killed during the operations, and 3 Officers and 36 men were wounded.

This campaign was only the second occasion in the Regiment’s history when the Distinguished Conduct Medal was granted, the first having been the Second Afghan War seventeen years earlier. Six D.C.M.s were awarded to the Regiment for the Tirah Campaign, including that to Milton. He died at the King’s Own Scottish Borderer’s Depot at Berwick, in August 1903.