Seven: Corporal H. B. Eales, Devonshire Regiment, Base Drummer Corps of Drums 1939-45...

Seven: Corporal H. B. Eales, Devonshire Regiment, Base Drummer Corps of Drums 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (5619033 Pte. H. Eales. Devon.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (5619033 Cpl. H. Eales. Devon.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (5619033 Cpl. H. B. Eales. Devon.) mounted for wear, light contact marks, good very fine (7) £200-£240 --- Harry Burton ‘Busty’ Eales was born in Puddington, near Cheriton Fitzpaine, Devon in 1917. A Gardener by trade he attested for the Devonshire Regiment at Exeter on 12 December 1936. Posted to the 1st Battalion stationed at Rawalpindi, India, on 7 March 1938, he relinquished his appointment of Drummer on 1 March 1942, before entraining with his battalion for Ceylon in June 1942 for final training for Burma. After serving with the 1st Battalion in Burma, patrolling the Kabaw valley from 12 October 1943 before being withdrawn to the Imphal Plain on 7 December 1943, he left the battalion for Transit Camp en-route to the U.K. on 29 January 1944, and was admitted to Mile End Hospital, Colchester on 22 March 1944. Posted next to home units, Eales embarked for North West Europe to join the 2nd Battalion in June 1945. Posted home he joined HQ Company 11 PTC as a Regimental Policeman on 30 December 1946. Posted back to the 1st Battalion he embarked for operational service in Malaya on 12 August 1949 and returning home with his battalion in December 1950. After a short tour of duty in Tripoli during 1951/52 the battalion returned to Colchester and were called to assist following the East Coast Floods in January 1953. Airlifted to Kenya for the Mau Mau Emergency in April 1953 he returned with the 1st Battalion on 25 January 1955 before being posted to BAOR at Celle in June 1956. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in January 1956 he was present as the Base Drummer Corps of Drums at the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment Amalgamation Day Celebrations held at Mindon on 17 May 1958. Posted home he was discharged on 11 December 1958, after 22 years’ service. Returning to Exeter he was employed by the local council when he was tragically found dead aged 63 in the Exeter Canal on 23 July 1980 – an open verdict being recorded. Sold with copied service record and other research.