Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, V.R. cypher, reverse inscribed, ‘Major Oswald, Fife Light Horse 1893’, hallmarks for London 1892, complete with brooch bar, good very fine £70-90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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James Townsend Oswald was born on 18 September 1820, the only son of General Sir John Oswald, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. He was granted a commission as an Ensign by purchase, in the 2nd West India Regiment on 11 January 1839, and a day later he became an Ensign by purchase in the 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment. Later the same year he transferred, by purchase, as an Ensign and Lieutenant to the 1st (Grenadier) Regiment of Foot Guards. He was promoted Lieutenant and Captain by purchase in the same regiment on 8 November 1844. Oswald retired by sale of his commission on 31 March 1848. On the formation of the Volunteers in 1859, Oswald joined the 3rd Fifeshire Mounted Rifle Volunteers and was appointed Captain of the 3rd Corps with seniority of 11 July 1860. He served as such for over 24 years and resigned on 2 August 1884 when he was granted the Honorary rank of Major and was permitted to continue to wear the uniform of the Corps on his retirement. Soon after the institution of the Volunteers Officers’ Decoration in 1892, he was awarded the V.D., this being notified in the London Gazette of 22 November 1892. Major J. T. Oswald, V.D., D.L., J.P., of Dunnikier, Kirkaldy, Co. Fife, died on 4 June 1893.

Sold with copied photograph and research. His photo and details appear in the O.M.R.S. Journal, Spring, 1989, p.21.