Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Samana 1891, Hazara 1891 (2719 Pte. H. Meekin 1st. Bn. K.R. Rif. C.) clasps remounted in this order with top lugs removed, edge bruise, good very fine £180-220

Herbert Meekins was born in Oxfordshire, and attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 1 June 1885, giving his date of birth as 1866. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he went with them to India in November 1890, and took part in the Miranzai and Hazara Expeditions of 1891, before returning to England in March 1893 and transferring to the Army reserve the following month. His army record of service comes to an abrupt end on 1 October 1895, when he is recorded as ‘Illegally absent’. Three days later a man by the name of Herbert Meekins enlists into the Royal Navy, giving his place and date of birth as Oxford, 24 May 1871, and served as a Stoker 2nd Class in H.M.S. Wildfire. Advanced to Stoker 1st Class on 1 July 1906, whilst serving in H.M.S. Ocean, he served during the Great War in H.M. Torpedo Boat No. 11, and was killed in action when his M.T.B. was destroyed by a mine in the North Sea whilst accompanying H.M.S. Coquette on 7 March 1916. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Sold together with a large quantity of research including relevant census records which indicate that both Herbert Meekins are one and the same man.