Description
Army Meritorious Service Medal, VR, Sergeant Major George Grossett, Mussoorie Volunteer Rifles Corps.
Sergeant Major and Instructor George Grossett, originally from the small parish of Lasswade near Edinburgh, had first signed up to join the Army at Edinburgh in 1866 aged 17. 2 Years later he was posted for service in India with the 92nd Gordon Highlanders, where he would remain for over 35 years of service, he would spend many years in the town of Mussoorie in Uttarakhand, which is a Hill Station at an elevation of 2000m, where he was a Sergeant Instructor. By the time of his discharge at his own request in 1904 he had served for 38 years 37 days.
Officially engraved in flowing script: “Sergt. Major Geo Grosset. Mussoorie Vol R Corps”.
According to “The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953” By Ian Mcinnes, out of about 443 issues of the Meritorious Service Medal through the Victorian Period, only 7 were issued to Indian units this being the only known example to the “Mussoorie Volunteer Rifles Corps”. Throughout the history of the Annuity MSM very few have been awarded to Colonial units.
The Aberdeen Journal, 16th December 1896:
“A Scotsman, Sergeant-Major Grossett, who has a record of military service extending over 30 years, has been presented by Colonel Rennick with the Meritorious Service Medal at the inspection of the Mussoorie Rifle Volunteer Corps, in whose service he has done good work as an instructor for 18 years.”
George Grossett, was born during 1849 in Lasswade, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.
He was working as a “Servant” when he attested for service at the age of 17 and 10 months at Edinburgh with the 87th Regiment on 29th March 1866.
Transferred to the 92nd Highlanders on 1st December 1867 at Gibraltar and proceeded to India where he would remain for 35 years 187 days on 26th January 1868.
Promoted to Corporal on 10th December 1872, before reverting to Private on 1st April 1872 “Permitted by the Major General Commanding the Division to revert”
Re-engaged at Charkrata to complete 21 years service on 24th June 1873, promoted Corporal on 13th May 1874, Lance Sergeant 14th October 1876, Promoted Sergeant on 31st October 1876.
Transferred to the Unattached List on probation, 1st November 1878. Transferred to the 88th (Connaught) Regiment on 31st December 1880. before rejoining his old unit the 92nd Gordon Highlanders on 1st January 1881.
Appointed as Acting Sergeant Major on 1st August 1885.
By 1886 he had finished his 21 years of long service, when he chose to forgo his retirement and pension, and sign on for further service
“Gave notice of his desire to continue in the service on 19-6-1886 at Mussoorie, and thereby consent to the application to him of the full provisions of Part 2 Army Act….”
After finishing his 38th Year of service, he handed in his 3 months notice, aged 55, being discharged on 4th May 1904, as 1st Class Sergeant Instructor, Acting Sergeant Major The Cameronians, Scottish Rifles, attached Mussoorie Volunteer Rifles Corps, and returned home to Edinburgh.
Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, VR issue with the Mussoorie Volunteers, announced in the General Orders by Commander in Chief dated 1884, however
“The non-commissioned officers and man named below have been awarded silver medals for long service and good conduct, with gratuities of £5 each, on discharge, under the provisions of Article 1474, Pay Code,……
…Sergt. Instr. G. Grossett, Mussoorie Volunteers.”
Awarded this Meritorious Service Medal, announced in the Military Gazette, Lahore, 28th April 1896:
“His Excellency the Governor-General in Council is pleased to confer an annuity of £10 on Sergeant Instructor (Acting Sergeant Major) George Grosset, Mussoorie Volunteer Rifle Corps.”
The Civil and Military Gazette, Lahore, 7th October 1892, also lists the shooting matches of the Mussoorie Volunteer Rifle Matches, where unsurprisingly Sergt Grosset displays his skill with a rifle: “The First prize in the Merchants’ match was won by Sergeant-Major Grosset.”
The Aberdeen Journal, 16th December 1896:
“A Scotsman, Sergeant-Major Grossett, who has a record of military service extending over 30 years, has been presented by Colonel Rennick with the Meritorious Service Medal at the inspection of the Mussoorie Rifle Volunteer Corps, in whose service he has done good work as an instructor for 18 years.”
He married Agnes Marshman in Mussoorie on 4th June 1879, and had 3 children, George Angus, Alice Mary and William James Francis Gorssets during the 1880s.
His Marriage announced in the Civil and Military Gazette, 10th June 1879: “MARRIAGE – Grossett- Marshman, At the Union Church, Mussoorie, on the 4th Instant by the Reverend J Gelson Gregson, Sergeant-Major George Grossett, M.V.R.C., to Miss Agnes Marshman
