A unique India General Service Medal 1908-1935, 1 Clasp: Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 awarded to Private J.M. Braithwaite 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment who saw service in India during the Great War and later in Afghanistan during the Third Afghan War. The only man on the roll for the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment for this medal. He later worked as a Postman in Leeds.
India General Service Medal 1908-1935, 1 Clasp: Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919; (8947 PTE. J.M. BRAITHWAITE, 2/DEVON REGT.)
Condition: some contact wear to the obverse and minor edge-bruising, Very Fine
Joseph Mallinson Braithwaite was born at 24A Buslingthorp Lane, Leeds on 26th December 1890 and attested on 23rd July 1907, he would initially serve with the 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment , and having spent time in Cyprus, Egypt and Sudan would travel to India disembarking at Karachi on 6th February 1912, he would see Great War service in India attaining the rank of Corporal on 15th August 1915 would later return to duty as a Private on 22nd August 1917.
He would be discharged on 13th February 1919 before re-enlisting the following day for a further years, he would then see service during the Third Afghan War in Afghanistan before transferring to the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment at Peshawar on 1st January 1920. He is the sole name on the regimental roll for the India General Service Medal with clasp Afghanistan N.W.F.1919.
He would extend his term of re-enlistment to complete 21 years with the colours on 14th June 1923 but claimed discharge after 3 months notice on 31st August 1928.
Braithwaite would be appointed a Postman at the General Post Office in Leeds in January 1933, and the 1939 Register shows him still working as a Postman and living at 53 Pennington Street, Leeds. He died on 31st January 1956 at Woodhouse, Leeds.
