Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private J. Harris, 2nd West India Regiment

Ashanti Star 1896, unnamed as issued; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, 1897-98, Sierra Leone 1898-99 (1129 Pte. J. Harris, 2/W.I.R.), light contact marks, very fine or better (2) £450-550

John Harris was born in Charlestown, Jamaica and enlisted in the West India Regiment at Camp Jamaica in August 1892, aged 19 years. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, his career got off to an unhappy start with a conviction for ‘using violence to a person in whose custody he was placed’ in September 1893.

Harris saw extensive active service on the Gold Coast, being present in the Ashanti Expedition 1895-96 (Star); the expeditions into the hinterland of Lagos and the northern territories 1897-98 (Medal & clasp), and the operations in Sierra Leone 1898-99 (second clasp). Having latterly been employed on garrison duties in Bermuda, he was discharged as ‘medically unfit for further service’ back in Jamaica in July 1902; sold with copied medal & clasp roll verification and service record.