Baldwin & Sons
Auction 103 6 Oct 2021
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India General Service and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Pair, awarded to Sergeant
Major Walter Cox, Nayar Brigade, Sultan's Bodyguard, late 1st and 2nd Batt alion's Somerset Light
Infantry and 1st and 2nd Batt alion's Royal Scots, a Chelsea out-pensioner comprising, India General
Service Medal 1854-95, one clasp, Burma 1885-7, (1694 Sergt. W. Cox 2nd. Bn. Som L.I.), Army Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal, QVR, (Sergt. Major W. Cox Nayar Brigade) both named in engraved
running script, edge bump reverse IGSM at 2 o'clock otherwise lightly toned very fi ne. £500-£600
William Cox was born on the 11th of October 1856 in Bruton Somerset he att ested for the Somerset
Light Infantry at Bath on the 19th of May 1879 giving his trade as Shoemaker aged 22 years 1 month.
He served with the 2nd Batt alion Somerset Light Infantry in India, Walter Cox arrived as part of a draft
from England in January 1880 serving at Kamptee from January 1880 to October 1883 with one period
in April 1882 at Seetabuldee, he was promoted to Corporal on the 20th of December 1881. In October
1883 he moved to Rangoon, Burma until January 1884 when he moved to Port Blair, the Andaman
Islands, he was posted back to Rangoon in October 1884 and remained there until June 1886, on the
11th of May 1886 he was promoted to Sergeant. In July 1886 he joined the Burma Field Force and served
with them for three months before posting to Poonamallee, India Wellington, India and then Mandalay,
Burma. Sergeant Cox was then posted in May 1887 to Belgaum where he remained until Mar On the
5th of December 1889, he was transferred to the un-att atched list as Serjeant Major and Drill Instructor
Nayar Brigade. The Nayar Brigade was one of the native levies raised by the Raja of Tranvacore and is
shown in the published Army Lists between 1850 and 1892. It latt erly consisted of the Raja's Bodyguard
and was made up of Artillery and two infantry Batt alions.
Transferred to the Royal Scots 30th September 1893 remaining on the un-att atched list. Awarded Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal, AO 1899. Remanded to the 1st Batt alion Royal Scots 19th April 1901,
transferred 2nd Batt alion Royal Scots 23rd June 1901, discharged at his own request 9th July 1901 after
serving 22 years 52 days with the Colours.
His Service papers confi rm the India General Service Medal and clasp and his Long Service and Good
Conduct Medal. He was a Chelsea Hospital out-pensioner with the rank of Colour Serjeant Royal Scots
with a pension of 31d. Per day for life.
Walter Cox died in Dulton, East Suff olk on the 15th of April 1936, his death certifi cate states Army
Pensioner and Licensed Victualler (retired).
Sold with copied Service Papers, copy medal rolls, birth and death certifi cates and several pages of
typed research – an unusual unit.
Major Walter Cox, Nayar Brigade, Sultan's Bodyguard, late 1st and 2nd Batt alion's Somerset Light
Infantry and 1st and 2nd Batt alion's Royal Scots, a Chelsea out-pensioner comprising, India General
Service Medal 1854-95, one clasp, Burma 1885-7, (1694 Sergt. W. Cox 2nd. Bn. Som L.I.), Army Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal, QVR, (Sergt. Major W. Cox Nayar Brigade) both named in engraved
running script, edge bump reverse IGSM at 2 o'clock otherwise lightly toned very fi ne. £500-£600
William Cox was born on the 11th of October 1856 in Bruton Somerset he att ested for the Somerset
Light Infantry at Bath on the 19th of May 1879 giving his trade as Shoemaker aged 22 years 1 month.
He served with the 2nd Batt alion Somerset Light Infantry in India, Walter Cox arrived as part of a draft
from England in January 1880 serving at Kamptee from January 1880 to October 1883 with one period
in April 1882 at Seetabuldee, he was promoted to Corporal on the 20th of December 1881. In October
1883 he moved to Rangoon, Burma until January 1884 when he moved to Port Blair, the Andaman
Islands, he was posted back to Rangoon in October 1884 and remained there until June 1886, on the
11th of May 1886 he was promoted to Sergeant. In July 1886 he joined the Burma Field Force and served
with them for three months before posting to Poonamallee, India Wellington, India and then Mandalay,
Burma. Sergeant Cox was then posted in May 1887 to Belgaum where he remained until Mar On the
5th of December 1889, he was transferred to the un-att atched list as Serjeant Major and Drill Instructor
Nayar Brigade. The Nayar Brigade was one of the native levies raised by the Raja of Tranvacore and is
shown in the published Army Lists between 1850 and 1892. It latt erly consisted of the Raja's Bodyguard
and was made up of Artillery and two infantry Batt alions.
Transferred to the Royal Scots 30th September 1893 remaining on the un-att atched list. Awarded Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal, AO 1899. Remanded to the 1st Batt alion Royal Scots 19th April 1901,
transferred 2nd Batt alion Royal Scots 23rd June 1901, discharged at his own request 9th July 1901 after
serving 22 years 52 days with the Colours.
His Service papers confi rm the India General Service Medal and clasp and his Long Service and Good
Conduct Medal. He was a Chelsea Hospital out-pensioner with the rank of Colour Serjeant Royal Scots
with a pension of 31d. Per day for life.
Walter Cox died in Dulton, East Suff olk on the 15th of April 1936, his death certifi cate states Army
Pensioner and Licensed Victualler (retired).
Sold with copied Service Papers, copy medal rolls, birth and death certifi cates and several pages of
typed research – an unusual unit.