A REMARKABLE AFGHANISTAN MEDAL (KABUL)
To a Greatly Underage Irish Soldier who joined the colours at Age 14.

To:
1233 HUGH NORCOTT 2/9th (East Norfolk) Foot Regt.
Served in Japan, India & Afghanistan.

[BIOGRAPHY & HISTORY]
HUGH NORCOTT was born in Doneraile, Cork, Ireland in 1845 and having previously been a young labourer joined the British Army at Limerick on 13th June 1859....he was just 4ft 9" and 14 years old !! His service papers initially describe him as a "Boy" and give him as being "UNDER AGE" until reaching age 17 on 13th June 1863. His rank was then altered to Private. His service & medical history is a joy to read and in common with many young men in the Victorian army his private medical record is, shall we say, very 'colourful'. He also had his fair share of normal illness. He rose from Boy to Sgt during his career, but although his overall character is described as "Good" there was never an LSGC due to his arrest for untruthfulness in 1880.

The 2nd Battalion was raised for the second time in 1857, and in the 1860s was landed at Yokohama, Japan as part of the British garrison stationed in protection of British commercial and diplomatic interests in the recently opened treaty port. The battalion then saw action on the North-West Frontier in 1877, and then in the Second Anglo-Afghan War fought at Kabul in 1879 for which Sgt Norcott received his medal. He is also technically entitled to a Jowaki clasped IGS which is listed on the roll but is then seen being scored through, so presumably not issued or forfeited. Indeed, during the qualification period Sgt Norcott is seen awaiting trial for "telling an untruth" to his commanding officer. This may have affected the issue of the medal.

The present Afghanistan medal being EF/EF+ does not exhibit any contact marks so has clearly never had contact with any other medal.

An interesting man. He married a Rosina Whiltry on Christmas Day 1870 and qualified in gymnastics in 1869. He served for 25 years from age 14 to 39 and was discharged in Great Yarmouth Yorkshire at the end of his second period of engagement on 8th July 1884.














AN EXCELLENT HIGH GRADE MEDAL TO AN INITIALLY TINY & UNDERAGE SOLDIER OF 14 !

SOLD