India General Service Medal clasp Relief of Chitral 1895 script naming 4202 PTE J THOMSON 2D BN SEAFORTH HIGHLRS & Queen’s Sudan Medal named 4202 PTE J THOMSON 1/SEA HRS. Missing the Khedive's Sudan Medal clasps The Atbara & Khartoum.
John Thomson born in Holm, Orkney on 1st Aug 1872 was a farm labourer when he enlisted into the Seaforth Highlanders numbered 4202 on 1st Mar 1892. After training he was sent to East Indies on 28th Jan 1893 till 22nd Jan 1897 where he was awarded his India medal for the Relief of Chitral where the Seaforth Highlands played a large part in the relief of the garrison at Chitral. Next he was sent to Malta till 7th Nov 1897 when they were sent to Crete to stop the Greek invasion till 24th Nov 1897 and then back to Malta till 4th Jan 1898. The regiment was then sent to Egypt to fight in the Sudan war and John is listed on his service papers as being wounded in action at the Battle of Omdurman with a gun shot wound to his right leg around 1st Oct 1898 which is when he was admitted to hospital. They left Egypt on 31st Jan 1903 and were sent back to East Indies. In 1910 he was attached to the Corps of Military Staff Clerks and promoted to Sgt. He was discharged on 2nd May 1912 after 20 years service.
Battle of Omburman only 47 killed and 340 wounded in action so a rare medal.
