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There was an Helvetia DCM group to Acting Sgt Major William Johnson and two VCs in the Boer War display.





Corporal James Huntley Knight
Served with the mounted infantry. he held off some 50 Boers while the detachment withdrew. He saved two men and carried one for nearly two miles.



Private William Heaton
Was in an advanced company that became surrounded. He volunteered to take a message requesting reinforcements and afterwards returned to the company.

This QSA hangs in the tower but it appears to be unnamed/erased.

The DoL group to Sgt W E Reed.

The DoL group to Capt F Hyslop.



The accompanying information from the lectern says that Francis Hyslop retired as a Lt Col. He also earned the OBE. Died 26 Dec 44 at 4 Beech Road, Cheadle Hulme.

His QSA is impressed and KSA engraved.

Picture courtesy of London Medal Co

Afghan (0) (CORPL: T. CORBETT. COMST: DEPT:);
Egypt (1) Tel-El-Kebir; (SERGT. T. CORBETT. IND: COMT. DEPT.);
IGS 1895 (1) Burma 1885-7; (***3 PTE T. CORBETT. 2D: BN: L’POOL R**);
QSA (2) CC SA02 (2063 CLR: SERJT: T. CORBETT. LIVERPOOL REGT);
Khedive’s Star dated 1882.

Thomas Corbett was born in 1858 in Birr, King’s County – now Offaly, Ireland, the son of John Corbett, he and his family moved to India where he father found work as a train inspector at Allahabad on the Indian Railways. Thomas Corbett enlisted into the British Army at Allahabad when aged 18 on 5th April 1876, joining as a Private (No.588) the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment of Foot – the Northumberland Fusiliers, which was then on service in India and stationed at Allahabad.

Corbett was appointed to Lance Corporal on 17th April 1877, and promoted to Corporal on 30th October 1879, he transferred to the Indian Unattached List on 30th December 1879, and then saw service on operations with the Indian Comisariat Department in Afghanistan towards the end of the Second Afghanistan War.

Corbett then transferred to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment of Foot – the Northumberland Fusiliers on 1st October 1880, and was promoted to Sergeant on 9th February 1881. Corbett was attached to the Indian Unattached List as a Sergeant from 1st July 1881, and then saw service during the Egyptian War with the Indian Comisariat Department being present in action at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13th September 1882, but was then remanded to military duty for general misconduct and untrustworthiness and struck off the Unattached List on 16th October 1883, before reverting to Corporal on 20th October 1883.

Corbett then continued in the service of the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers before being discharged on payment of £11 on 8th February 1884, after 7 years and 337 days service with the Colours.

Corbett then attested for service with the British Army again when aged 27 at Fort William in Calcutta on 14th September 1885, joining as a Private (No.2063) the 2nd Battalion, Liverpool Regiment. Corbett then saw service during the operations in Burma from 3rd November 1885 during the Third Burmese War which lasted from 14th November 1885 to 30th April 1887.

Corbett was posted back to India from 4th April 1887, and was then appointed to unpaid Lance Corporal on 1st October 1887, and appointed to paid Lance Corporal on 15th March 1889. Promoted to Corporal on 14th June 1889, and to Lance Sergeant on 28th January 1891, he was promoted to Sergeant on 8th May 1891, and then extended his service to complete 12 years with the Colours on 7th August 1891.

Corbett was posted to the United Kingdom from 15th November 1892, this being the first time he was back since he had moved with his parents to India as a child. On 21st April 1893 he was placed in confinement and was tried and convicted by District Court Martial for drunkeness on duty and sentenced to be reduced to the rank of Corporal on 28th April 1893, but was then once again promoted to Sergeant on 26th November 1894 whilst serving with the Depot.

Having re-engaged to complete 21 years with the Colours on 22nd February 1895, he was then posted to the Permanent Staff of the 3rd Militia Battalion, Liverpool Regiment on 20th November 1895.

With the continuation of the war in South Africa, a number of regiments containing large centres of population formed additional regular battalions. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) formed 3rd and 4th regular Battalions in February 1900 when the militia battalions were re-labeled as the 5th and 6th battalions, and Corbett then found himself serving with the 5th Militia Battalion, being promoted to Colour Sergeant with the unit on 6th June 1900.

The Boer War also provided the first opportunity for the regiment's volunteer battalions to serve overseas with regular forces, supplying individual detachments and service companies. The militia battalions, numbered the 5th and 6th during the war, contrastingly deployed to South Africa intact late in the conflict. Corbett saw service as a Colour Sergeant in South Africa from 16th December 1901, being present on operations in the Cape Colony, before being posted home on 14th September 1902, and discharged on 28th January 1904.

Confirmed as his full entitlement.

Picture courtesy of Jeager Medals

Afghan (1) (LIEUT.L.S.MELLOR, 2/8TH FOOT)
QSA (1) DoL (LT. COL.L.S.MELLOR, L’POOL REGT.)

Colonel Llewellyn Salisbury Mellor was born in 1853 and educated at Haileybury College. He entered the Liverpool Regiment in 1873 and, as a Lieutenant, fought in the second Afghan War including the action of 28 November 1878 and the battle and capture of Peiwar Kotal. On taking up command of the 1st Battalion in February 1899 he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and was advanced to Colonel in May 1902.