India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (406 Pte. F. Thorpe. 1st. Bn. R.W. Fus.) edge bruise, very fine £100-£140

Frederick Thorpe was born in Birmingham in 1859 and attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Warwick on 2 May 1883. He landed in India on 22 March 1883 and witnessed extensive service at Dum Dum and with the Burmah Field Force; his Army Service Record notes repeated illness associated with climatic conditions, together with hepatitis and a contusion of the hand. It also states that he deserted in July 1883 and was on the run for four months - tried by General Court Martial, Thorpe was sentenced to 84 days’ imprisonment with hard labour. He later faced two more periods of incarceration before being discharged in May 1889.