Description
General Service Medal, for Campaign Service, bar Northern Ireland, UN Cyprus, NATO Medal, bar Former Yugoslavia, NATO Medal, bar Kosovo, 2002 Golden Jubilee, Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, Sgt N.T. Bates, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
A good Modern Era Infantry grouping with many postings from the mid 1980s to 2000.
GSM officially impressed: “24689846 Fus N T Bates RRF”
ACSM Officially impressed: “24689846 Sgt N T Bates RRF”
Court mounted for wear.
ACSM is a scarce first type example with officially hallmarked rim at the Royal Mint near the claw, an unusual feature on a British Medal.
The date mark on the hallmarks shows production of the medal during 1997, an early issue of the medal.
Sergeant Bates service number would suggest enlistment between 1982-5 probably about 1983.
This would line up with the RRF posting to Cyprus which happened during 1985 and 1987 (UN Medal).
Following that the 1st Battalion RRF would be deployed to Bosnia during 1995 (NATO Medal), being joined there 2 years later by the 2nd Battalion, which also served in Kosovo in 2000 (Nato Medal).
As he got the 2002 Jubilee Medal but not Iraq, this would suggest his departure from the Army after about 20 years circa 2002-2003.
By this time he had risen to the rank of Sergeant.
