Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Quartermaster-Sergeant H. Hopkins, Rifle Brigade

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (5998 Pte. H. Hopkins 1st Bn. Rif. Brig.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (5998 Q.M.S. H. Hopkins. Rifle Bde.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5998 Qr:-Mr:-Serjt: H. Hopkins. Rifle Brigade); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (5998 Qr: Mr: Serjt: H. Hopkins. Rifle Brigade) mounted for display, very fine or better (4) £350-400

Hopkins was employed in Burma as a Brigade Signaller, one of about 40 Riflemen so employed. ‘The number of messages averaged over 100 daily, all these having to be handled twice; the Signallers were often busy till two and three in the morning. All communication was by heliograph and lamps; the latter were badly made, especially the shutters, which became useless after a month’s work, and in most cases a book cover had to be resorted to and worked in front of the light; this answered very well so far as the signalling was concerned, but it was tedious work for the operator.