India General Service Medal 1895-1902, 3 Clasps: Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 awarded to Private A. Clark, 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers who saw service during the Punjab Frontier operations which lasted from 10th June 1897 to 6th April 1898, and was serving on the Samana Ridge running in the direction of Samana, and garrisons beyond Kohat from 26th July to 2nd August 1897, and then as part of the Tirah Field Force during its operations which lasted from 2nd October 1897 to 6th April 1898.
India General Service Medal 1895-1902, 3 Clasps: Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98; (3970 Pte. A. Clarke, 1st Bn. Ryl. Sco: Fus.) note difference in spelling of surname
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Alexander Clark was born in Barony, Glasgow in 1870. He attested for a term of twelve years service in the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Glasgow on 7th December 1892 at the age of 22 years and 5 months, giving his occupation as an Iron Moulder. At the time of his enlistment he belonged to the Militia, specifically the 4th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry.
He would serve with the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers in the East Indies between 1st March 1893 and 28th January 1905, and this battalion was part of a force of 36,000 troops that was deployed to the North West Frontier in 1897-98 to deal with a series of uprisings in the region. Clark must also have been part of the regiment which served on the Samana Ridge between August and October 1897, before joining with his colleagues to form part of the Tirah Field Force which fought a number of actions in the Tirah district between October 1897 and April 1898. Because of its involvement in the Tirah campaign the Royal Scots Fusiliers gained the battle honour for ‘Tirah’ for its colours.
Although on enlistment Clark only agreed to serve seven of his twelve years with the Colours, with the remainder in the Reserve, he extended his service on 27th September 1901 to complete all twelve years with the Colours. His Service Record also shows that on 9th February 1904 he was re-engaged at Allahabad ‘for such term as shall complete 21 years service’ but following his return Home on 29th January 1905 he was later discharged on 16th June 1905 ‘Free After Twelve Years Service’. In all Clark had served for 12 years and 192 days.
