About the product

WW1 MSM 4th KRRC East Africa

£395.00

Army Meritorious Service Medal, GV, 7705 Sergeant William Beecroft, 4th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, a rare 1917 award for East Africa attached to the Indian Army.

In stock

Origin: United Kingdom
Good Very Fine

Description

Army Meritorious Service Medal, GV, 7705 Sergeant William Beecroft, 4th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, a rare 1917 award for East Africa attached to the Indian Army. 

 

Officially impressed: “7705 Sjt: W. Beecroft. 4/K.R.R.C.”

 

An interesting and scarce wartime award of the Meritorious Service Medal for “Devotion to duty” in the East Africa theatre of war.

 

Could be unique as an East African MSM to this unit as the regiment did not officially serve in the campaign.

 

Announced in the London Gazette, dated 26th May 1917, “Sjt W. Beecroft 4th Bn K.R.R.C. Attd Ind Tel Coy”

 

The Supplement to the London Gazette, 26th June 1916 records:

 

“The under mentioned non-commissioned officers are promoted to the rank indicated against their names, with effect from 1st April 1916:-

 

No 7705 Pte W. Beecroft, 4th Bn K.R.R.C. attached Indian Telegraph Company (Serjeant).”

 

Sjt William Beecroft’s war service began on his arrival in France on 19th February 1915 as a Rifleman in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, number 7705.

 

He re-enlisted with the 3rd K.R.R.C. as a Sergeant, number 49826.

 

During the war he earned his 1914-15 Star as a Rifleman and Pair as Sergeant named to the K.R.R.C.

 

Having become a Sergeant, he was then sent on detachment to the Indian Army, seeing service with the “Indian Telegraph Company” part of the Indian Telegraph Department, circa 1916-17, where he earned this medal for service in East Africa.

 

During WW1, the Indian Expeditionary Force operated in “East Africa” since November 1914, when they first arrived off Tanga.

 

Only 2 British Regiments actually fought in the campaign, mostly falling to the Indian Expeditionary Force alongside the South African Infantry in the region.