LANCE CORPORAL (LATER CORPORAL) J.T. CARLESS (SURNAME SPELT CARELESS IN SOME RECORDS), 1ST BATTALION CHESHIRE REGIMENT. India General Service Medal 1849-95, 1 clasp, Chin-Lushai 1889-90 (officially named, engraved in running script: 1083 Lce. Corpl. J.T. Carless 1st. Bn. Ches. R.). Medal polished and worn overall, naming also somewhat worn but all elements still legible, Almost Very Fine and accompanied by a length of original ribbon.
Medal accompanied by biographical details, 7 pages copied service papers, extracts 1881 and 1911 census returns, and extract medal roll, confirming medal and clasp.
John Thomas Morrey Carless was born in 1863 in the village of Willesden, Cheshire, some 19 miles from the nearest town, Crewe. Carless is recorded in the 1881 census as an 18 year old farm servant, indoors, resident in Hassal Hall, the home of a 45 year old farmer, Frederick Yates, the owner of a 108 acre farm and employer of 2 men and 3 boys. Carless enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment on 9/6/1884. At the time of enlistment he was 21 years of age and gave his trade as farm servant. Carless was appointed Lance Corporal 7/6/1886 and Corporal, 5/2/1896, being discharged on 8/6/1896, after 12 years service with the colours. He is recorded in the 1911 census as a 48 year old carter, employed by Crewe Corporation and resident at 87 Ridgeway Street, Crewe. Biographical details record Carless dying at Crewe in 1946, aged 83.
When I purchased this medal (Noonan's, 19/6/2024, lot 800, part) it was described by the auctioneer as being "renamed". This is not the case. The medal measures correctly 36mm in an electronic gauge, and although the naming is a little worn, it is entirely original and still fully readable.
