Description
Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, VR, 1st Type, Large Letter reverse, with steel clip and bar, Sergeant Major Robert Howarth, 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot.
Officially engraved: “No. 647 St Major Robt Howarth. 84th Regt 1852.”
With copy service papers, including his original attestation back in 1831.
The early 1st Type of the Victorian LSGC Medal, with “Large Letter” reverse and the original steel clip and shaped bar suspension.
The 84th Regiment of Foot, is also known as the “Yorks & Lancs” or the Yorks and Lancaster Regiment.
Robert was born circa 1811 in Rochdale, Lancashire, north of Manchester.
He had first attested for service with the 84th, his local regiment on 3rd January 1831 aged 20.
Originally he had to sign on for “Unlimited Service”, until he was no longer fit to service the Army.
He would go on to serve for 21 years 335 days, spending 10 years 109 days overseas on service in the “East Indies”.
He finally received his discharge in consequence of “Declining strength and activity, the effect of age and long tropical service and the board concur in opinion with the medical officer.”
His character: “Is Very Good and has been recommended for the Silver Medal and Gratuity (This medal).”
Throughout his career he saw as steady rise in the ranks to reach the respected NCO rank of Sergeant Major:
Private, 1st January 1831
Corporal, 9th May 1834
Sergeant, 1st October 1837
Colour Sergeant, 30th July 1844
Sergeant Major, 9th November 1849.
On 2nd May 1853 he was officially discharged and embarked back home for England from India on board the ship Gloriana on, holding the rank of Sergeant Major in the regiment.
Taking his discharge to pension, he intended to return home to Rochdale to enjoy retirement.
He is next shown back in Rochdale on the 1861 Census, living at Castleton with his wife Mary and his 5 children.
He is noted along with his wife as a “Beerseller”.
2 of his young children had been born in the East Indies, whilst he was still serving, so his Wife was there with him in India, a benefit of being a Sergeant.
He died in Rochdale circa 1867.
