Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes

Four: Captain J. B. Clark, Yorkshire Regiment, late Scots Greys and Army Service Corps, and Chief Clerk to Sir Evelyn Wood in the Gordon Relief Expedition 1884-85

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Cr. Sergt., Mil. S. Clerk); Army Long Service and Good Conduct, E.VII.R. (26 St. Sergt. Maj., A.S.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage head (S.S. Mjr., R.A.S.C.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, mounted as worn, contact wear, nearly very fine and better (4) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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Ex Upfill-Brown Collection.

John Bulmer Clark was born in 1854 and enlisted in the Royal Scots Greys in February 1878. Transferring to the Military Clerks Department two years later, he served in the Gordon Relief Expedition as Chief Clerk to Sir Evelyn Wood, in addition to working for Kitchener. Clark next transferred to the Army Service Corps and was posted to Malta, where for several years he served as a confidential Clerk to various Governors of the Island, and was originally recommended for the M.S.M. by Field Marshal Lord Grenfell in February 1902, even though his L.S. & G.C. would not be issued until October of that year. Taking up post as Superintending Clerk at the Infantry Record Office, York on retirement in 1903, Clark made enquiries about his M.S.M. recommendation in 1908 and in 1911, but to no avail.

On the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he re-enlisted and was appointed as Warrant Officer 1st Class in the West Yorkshire Regiment in March 1915. Recommended for a commission as a Lieutenant and Quarter-Master by the G.O.C.-in-C. Northern Command in October of the same year, Clark was duly appointed to the 15th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment at Clipstone Camp in January 1916, his commission being gazetted as Temporary Q.M. and Hon. Lieutenant in the following month. And in September 1917 he successfully applied for advancement to Captain, stating that six of his sons had seen military service, two of them having been killed. He was finally placed on the Retired List in March 1920, aged 65 years, and settled in York, where he died in June 1936; see Ian McInnes’ The Annuity M.S.M. 1847-1953, First Supplement for further career details and photograph.