Special Collections
Create new listA scarce 1847 M.S.M. group of three awarded to Colour-Sergeant John Jefferies, 40th Foot
Candahar Ghuznee Cabul 1842 (Sergt., Her M’s. 40th Regt.) fitted with original steel clip and contemporary replacement silver bar suspesnion, surname spelt ‘Jeffries’ on this; Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Serjt., H.M. 40th Regt.) fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension inscribed with his name; Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R., 1st dated issue (Color Serjt., 40th Regt. 1847) the last with traces of brooch marks to obverse, naming detail weak in parts from contact wear on the first and last, pitting overall, therefore good fine and scarce (3) £1200-1500
This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.
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Only 107 M.S.M.’s of the first issue were awarded with the edge dated 1847, this one being unique to the 40th Foot.
John Jefferies was born at Sudbury, Suffolk, in 1806, and was attested for the 40th Foot at Colchester on 15 November 1825, aged 19 years. He joined his regiment in Tasmania, or Van Dieman’s Land as it was then called, where he remained for almost two years before they were posted to Belgaum, in the Bombay Presidency of India. Promoted to Corporal in 1833 and to Sergeant in 1834, Jefferies saw his first active service in 1839-43, in Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and lower and upper Scinde, culminating in the battle of Maharajpoor on 29 December 1843. He was promoted to Colour-Sergeant in 1844 and sailed for England in 1845. He was by now suffering from chronic hepatitis and rheumatism, which caused him to be discharged on 22 December 1846. His papers were signed by Lieutenant-Colonel George Hibbert, the last of the officers of the 40th who had fought at Waterloo, and it was he who recommended Jefferies for the M.S.M. in March 1847. Jefferies received his M.S.M. on 3 December of that year, together with an Annuity of £10, and died circa 1875. Sold with copy discharge papers.
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