Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Serjeant T. N. J. Potts, North Staffordshire Regiment

1914-15 Star (5565 Sjt., N. Staff. R.); British War and Victory Medals (5565 Sjt., N. Staff. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (5565 A.W.O. Cl. 2, N. Staff. R.) official correction to rank; Delhi Durbar 1911 (Sergt. T. N. J. Potts, 2/N. Stafford Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (5565 Sjt., N. Staff. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (5038776 Sjt., N. Stafford R.) last gives initials as ‘Y. N. J.’, mounted as worn, fine and better (7) £800-900

Thomas Nathaniel John Potts was born on 16 December 1883 at Polemidia, Cyprus, the son of Sergeant Instructor of Musketry, later Colour-Sergeant Thomas H. Potts, Royal West Kent Regiment. Potts enlisted into the North Staffordshire Regiment as a Band Boy in 1898. He served in India, initially with the 1st Battalion, later with the 2nd. As a Serjeant he was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 - one of 20 such medals to the regiment. With the start of the Great War, the 2nd Battalion remained in India, serving on the N.W. Frontier. Still there at the end of the war, the battalion served in the Third Afghan War. In February 1920 they were stationed in Cairo, Egypt, before returning home in June 1921. Their stay there was short as they were soon despatched to Ireland to counter the troubles there, being based in Counties Tipperary, Tyrone and Londonderry. Potts was discharged as Company Serjeant-Major on 6 January 1923. During his military career he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. and in 1952 he was awarded the M.S.M. Latterly living at Tamworth, he died of heart disease on 21 August 1960.

With a quantity of copied research including roll extract; m.i.c.; death certificate; many extracts from the regimental magazine - The China Dragon and a newspaper extract relating to his funeral. With a copied photograph taken from The China Dragon showing Potts as a member of the winning 1914 side in India.