Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (B. Franks, 24th Foot) suspension with traces of repair, edge bruising and contact marks, fine £160-180

Benjamin Franks was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire and enlisted in the 24th Foot in February 1846, aged 20 years. In his subsequent career of 21 years with the Colours, 11 of which were spent out in India, he fought in the Punjab Campaign and was present at Chilianwala and Goojerat. Franks appears to have had a serious run-in with higher authority in the early 1850s, once being tried by a District Court Martial and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 12 months and given 50 lashes, but from 1855 until his discharge in April 1868, he committed no further offences.