Description
Tibet Medal 1903-4, no bar, Sergeant William Tapp, Supply & Transport Corps, a rare example to a British NCO on the expedition. Later commissioned as a Sub Conductor.
Officially engraved in running script: “Sergt W. Tapp. S&T Corps.”
Confirmed on the medal roll. The medal being issued to via the Commanding Officer of the Agra Supply Station.
Sub Conductor William Tapp, was born in Bloakley, Moreton, Gloucestershire.
The son of William Tapp of that town.
Before signing on for full time service he served with K Company of the 2nd Gloucester Volunteers.
He first joined the Royal Artillery at Crown Hill Fort on 11th January 1893 aged 19.
He set off for India on 11th October 1894 and would spent most of his life there from that day onwards.
His papers also recall “Injuries in or by the service, Wound right forehead 11.5.1898”
William rose to Bombardier on 31st March 1899, followed by a promotion to Corporal on 7th September 1900.
On 28th January 1902, he joined the Indian Unattached List on a transfer from the Royal Garrison Artillery.
With them he was promoted next year to Sergeant on 28th January 1903.
Following that up with a posting as one of the few European NCO’s employed on the Tibet Expedition who managed the various Indian and Nepalese etc workers of the S&T Corps.
On 10th February 1910, he had been promoted to Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer).
Being then promoted vide Gazette of India Notification No 380 dated 13/05/1910, to be a commissioned as a Sub Conductor on 10th February 1910.
With the outbreak of war around the globe, William was mobilised on 26th October 1914 embarking at Karachi on the SS Ellenga.
He then landed at Suez on 17th November 1914.
Being posted over to Kantara on 19th November 1914. (now known as El Quantara)
He transferred over to Moascar on 15th Jan 1915.
Then Suez Camp, 28th Dec 1915
Then “Kribia?” 16th Jan 1916
El Shatt, 16th February 1916
Ayuan Musa, 22nd May 1916 (aka Oyun Musa, the biblical Well of Moses)
El Shatt, 31st May 1916.
Granted 4 weeks leave to India at Suez on HT Ballarat on 13th Dec 1916.
He would land back in Eypt on the SS Kara Deniz at Suez on 3rd Feb 1917 being sent to the Supply Depot Shullufa for duty, having embarked from Bombay originally on 21st Jan 1917.
On 1st March 1917 he was transferred from the Supply Sepot Shallufa to teh Base Transport Depot at Suez.
He transferred to Deril Belah on 13th May 1917.
Being appointed as Brigade Supply Officer at Elef on 16th May 1917.
He relinquished his duties at Supply Officer to the 49th I.I. Brigade Egyptian Expeditionary Force at Rafa (aka Rafah) on 31st May 1917.
Returned to Oyun Mosa about 21st August 1917.
Served in Kantara, 22nd August 1917.
Joined for Duty at Rafah on 25th August 1917.
After serving out the rest of the war around the Egyptian Region he was still with the EEF as 1919 began, he was “Admitted to the 32nd Casualty Clearing Hospital while on detached duty” in Beirut (Now Lebanon), but died at the hospital of Pneumonia on 16th April 1919.
