Thos. Wilkes. 40th. Regt.

Officially engraved in small upright serif capitals, fitted with replacement suspension, edge bruising, polishing to high relief, otherwise nearly very fine.

Thomas Wilkes was born in Wolverhampton in 1821 and attested for the 40th Regiment of Foot at Coventry on 15 November 1839 for a bounty of £3. 17s. 6d., with a further 2/6d. upon attestation. A cabinet key maker by trade, he served abroad for 5 years, including 2 years and 276 days in the Lower and Upper Scinde, Belloochistan and Afghanistan, which saw active service during the First Afghan War. Granted the Candahar Ghuznee Cabul 1842 Medal for the Afghan campaign, he was discharged at Chatham on 16 April 1846, unfit for further military service. His medical record upon discharge adds:

‘This man has been long in hospital and is considered unfit for the service in consequence of impaired constitution and want of free motion in the right knee-joint. The disabilities under which he now labours have not been caused nor aggravated by intemperance or any vice.’

Wilkes was unable to attend the meeting of his discharge board: ‘being at the invalid department at Chatham.’

With copied service record.