Orders, Decorations and Medals

India General Service 1854-95, 3 clasps, Burma 1887-9, Burma 1889-92, Kachin Hills 1892-93 (Lieutt. J. W. Driver, 13th Madras Infy.) minor edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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James William Drever (note misspelling on medal) was born on 9 July 1867, and was commissioned as Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 30 January 1886. He transferred to the Madras Staff Corps in May 1887, becoming Captain in January 1897 and Major in 1904. Lieutenant Drever served as an Assistant Commandant with the Burma Military Police during the Kachin Hills campaign and is mentioned extensively in the campaign reports annexed to the Military Department’s Despatch No. 212 of 4 October 1893. His action with Captain Atkinson in storming and capturing the blockhouse at Palap on 3 February is described as ‘a brilliant exploit, which dealt the final blow to the Kachins and practically brought the operations to a conclusion

In his despatch dated 11 March 1893, to the Inspector-General of Police, Burma, Captain W. G. Alban, Commanding Sima Operations wrote of Lieutenant Drever: ‘This officer, I consider, in a very high degree contributed to the success of the operations. His influence with the Gurkhas, which he possesses in a marked degree, enables him to handle them with an ease in times of difficulty and trouble which is astonishing. As cool in danger as when out of it, and the best hand at jungle fighting that I have ever seen, I strongly recommend him to your favourable notice.

In due course Drever received the thanks of the Government for his services in the Kachin Hills campaign (Military Department letter No. 2993B dated 25 September 1893). Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding 62nd Punjabis, in August 1910, he died at Benares on 3 November 1911. Sold with full details.