British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Sergeant R. G. Bruce, Corps of Military Staff Clerks, India Unattached List, late Royal Highlanders

1914-15 Star (985 Pte. (A. Sjt.) R. G. Bruce, R. Highrs.); 1914-15 Star (No. 985 Sergt. R. G. Bruce, Corps of Mily. St. Clerks, I.U.L.); British War and Victory Medals (985 Sjt. R. G. Bruce, R. Highrs.); Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Sergt. R. G. Bruce, I.U. List), generally very fine or better, the last rare to a European and an unusual double issue of the 1914-15 Star (5) £350-400

Ex Major J. L. R. Sampson Collection, Glendining’s, 19 June 1991.

Robert G. Bruce enlisted in the Royal Highlanders in Perth in September 1907, aged 18 years, and joined the 2nd Battalion out in India sometime before the Great War. On the outbreak of hostilities, due to a shortage of qualified military clerks, Bruce was attached to the Corps of Military Staff Clerks (I.U.L.), in which capacity he landed in Egypt in November 1914. Subsequently awarded the Indian Army M.S.M. ‘in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in Egypt’ (London Gazette 3 June 1918 refers), he was discharged to the Army Reserve in October 1919.

Apart from the issue of 13 such M.S.Ms to senior N.C.Os in native regiments who had European names (probably Anglo-Indians), the award is known to have been issued on only nine occasions to Europeans serving in the Indian Army.