Six: Private F. Jewkes, Devonshire Regiment India General Service 1895, 1 clasp Relief...

Six: Private F. Jewkes, Devonshire Regiment India General Service 1895, 1 clasp Relief of Chitral 1895 (2589 Pte. F. Jewkes. Devon: Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Lang’s Nek (2589 Pte. F. Jewkes. Devon: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2589 Pte. F. Jewkes. Devon: Regt.); 1914-15 Star (14708 Pte. F. Jewkes. Devon: R..); British War and Victory Medals (14708 Pte. F. Jewkes. Devon. R.) contact marks and minor edge bruising, generally very fine (6) £500-£700 --- 2 Officers and 16 Men from Devonshire Regiment served with the Maxim Gun Detachment during the Relief of Chitral 1895 and received this clasp. This was the second occasion on which the machine gun was used in action by the British Army. A further 9 officers and men from the Devonshire Regiment received the clasp for their involvement elsewhere in the Relief. Francis Jewkes was born in Dudley, Worcestershire in 1871 into a coal mining family. He enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment in May 1889 and embarked with the 1st Battalion for Egypt on 28 January 1891, before moving next to the North West Frontier of India, arriving at Rawalpindi on 25 February 1893. Trained in the use of the new Maxim Gun he formed part of the Maxim Gun team of 2 Officers and 12 men selected to join the Chitral Relief Force on 30 March 1895. Having served 7 years he was discharged to Reserve and returned to his previous occupation as a Coal Miner in Staffordshire. Recalled from Reserve in October 1899, Jewkes was posted to the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment and sailed with them for South Africa. The battalion took part in the actions at Colenso, Relief of Ladysmith and the capture of Botha’s Pass (Laing’s Nek). Returning home he was discharged on 14 April 1902. The 1911 Census records him as a Coal Miner Hewer residing at Brownhills, Staffordshire. He re-enlisted for serving in the Great War on 1 December 1914 and was posted to the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, embarking for France on 1 April 1915. Discharged due to sickness on 8 June 1916 he was awarded a disability pension attributable to service and received the Silver War Badge and Certificate. Returning once again to his civilian occupation he was employed as a Coal Hewer (below ground) by Coppice Colliery Company at Cannock. He died at Burntwood Hospital, Staffordshire on 14 March 1941, aged 70. Sold with copied research.