Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: Company Quartermaster Sergeant A. E. Conlan, Lancashire Fusiliers, Bandmaster of the Isle of Wight Rifles

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (2971 Pte. A. Conlan, 2/Lan. Fus.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (2971 Sgt. A. Conlan, Lanc. Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (2971 Serjt. A. Colan, Lanc. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (6876 C. Sjt. A. E. Colan, Lan. Fus.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-18 (6876 C. Sjt. A. E. Conlan, Lan. Fus.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (2971 Corpl. A. Conlan, 2nd L.F.) engraved naming, mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (7) £600-700

Arthur Ernest Conlan was born in the Parish of St. Nicholas, Newport, Isle of Wight on 2 January 1875. He enlisted into the Lancashire Fusiliers at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight on 27 March 1889, as a boy aged 14 years, 1 month and served as a Bandsman. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in January 1894, Corporal in July 1897 and Sergeant in April 1898. As a Bandsman he was particularly adept with the clarinet, flute and piccolo. With the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers he served overseas in India, December 1889-January 1898; Egypt and Sudan, January-October 1898; Crete, October-December 1898; Malta, December 1898-September 1899; and South Africa, December 1899-October 1902. As a Sergeant Drummer, Conlan took his discharge, after giving three months notice, on 19 July 1911. Prior to the Great War he was Bandmaster of the Isle of Wight Rifles (8th Battalion Hampshire Regiment). With the start of the Great War and being employed as a Musician in civil life, he attested for the Army Reserve (Special Reserve) at Newport on 31 October 1914, aged 39 years. Posted to the Lancashire Fusiliers, in December 1914 he was appointed Colour Sergeant and shortly afterwards, Company Quartermaster Sergeant in the 13th Battalion. In July 1916 he was posted as Colour Sergeant to the 1st Battalion and served with the B.E.F., 21 July-2 August 1916. After his short sojourn at the front he returned to England having been appointed to the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant with the Training Reserve. C.Q.M.S. Conlan was transferred to the Army Reserve in March 1917 and was discharged on demobilisation on 13 January 1919. Living at 17 Cæsars Road, Newport and employed as a Musician, he once more attested for the Isle of Wight Rifles (8th Battalion Hampshire Regiment (T.A.)) on 2 August 1923 and served with them until August 1927, again as conductor of the band. Latterly employed as a Police Officer at Messrs. Sanders-Roe Aircraft Works in East Cowes, Conlan died of heart disease on 7 November 1943, aged 68 years. With a quantity of copied research, including service papers, roll and newspaper extracts.

All medals named to Conlan except KSA which is named ‘Conlon’