Description
Army Long Service and Good Conduct, VR, 1st Class Sergeant Instructor Samuel Frost Foster, 2nd Battalion, Bombay, Baroda and Central India Volunteer Corps. A scarce impressed Indian issue.
Officially impressed, which barely fits round the rim: “1ST CLASS SERGT SAMUEL FROST FOSTER 2ND BATTN B.B. C. I. RY VOLR CORPS”
An unusual issue to a long serving soldier of the 60th Regiment, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was posted to the Rajputana Rifle Volunteers during his time in India as their Sergeant Instructor of Musketry.
With full copy service papers.
Samuel Frost Foster, was born during 1856 in Dudley, Staffordshire.
He first attested for service with the General Service Infantry, joining the 1st 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 8th October 1874 at the age of 18.
He saw the following service:
Home, 9th October 1874 – 22nd April 1875
Nova Scotia, 23rd April 1875 – 1st January 1877
Home, 2nd January 1877 – 5th October 1877.
East Indies, 6th October 1877 – 25th January 1894.
He had been promoted numerous times at an impressive speed, after only one year he was promoted to Corporal on 23rd November 1875. By 20th June 1877, he was appointed as Lance Sergeant. Promoted to Sergeant on 4th September 1877, when he transferred to the 4/60th Rifles on 5th October 1877.
Promoted to Colour Sergeant on 19th April 1883.
Joined the Rajputana Rifle Volunteers as Colour Sergeant on 8th December 1883, appointed as Sergeant Instructor 1st Class on 13th July 1887.
On 14th November 1887 he transferred to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Simla.
He continued his service with 1st Battalion Loyal North Lancs as Sergeant Instructor 1st Class from 1st December 1887 until his discharge on 25th January 1894.
A lot of his life was spent in India, whilst on service he married his wife Catherine Austin at St Andrews Church in Ferozapore on 5th March 1884.
