Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Major A. S. Allan, Auxiliary Force Medical Corps

Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s breast badge, silver (1926-36); Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., rev. engraved, ‘Maj. A. S. Allan, Aux. Force Med. Cps. Attd. IV Bde. R.A.’, complete with brooch bar, good very fine (2) £180-220

Alexander Smith was educated at Glasgow and Liverpool Universities and qualified as a Doctor in 1897. He was at times, Medical Inspector of Seamen for the Port of Calcutta; Chief Medical Officer with the Norwich Union and New York Insurance Companies; a Member of the B.M.A. and the Asiatic Society of Bengal. He served with the Calcutta Port Defence Volunteer Corps, appointed Surgeon Lieutenant in October 1902 and promoted to Surgeon Captain in October 1905. He was then Captain and M.O. with the 4th (Cossipore) Brigade, A.F.I., November 1911, being promoted Major and M.O. in July 1915. He was appointed Major with the Auxiliary Force Medical Corps in May 1921 and was awarded the V.D. on 19 December 1925. Dr Allan was an Honorary Life Member of the Order of St. John (being elected in recognition of distinguished services) and was made an Honorary Associate in February 1913, becoming an Esquire in 1924 and later an Officer. He was a lecturer and examiner and Member of the General and Executive Committee, St. John Ambulance Association, Calcutta Centre, 1909-1919. He was a Surgeon of the Ambulance Nursing Division, 1912-18 and 1920-23 and served in the St. John Ambulance Sisters’ Convalescent Home for Soldiers and British Officers, as Senior Medical Officer, 1916-18. Sold with copied service details.