PRIVATE J. COUSINS, 2ND BATTALION SOMERSETSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY. India General Service Medal 1849-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (renamed, contemporary re-engraved naming in serifed block capitals: 177 Pte. J. COUSINS, 2ND. BATT. S.L.I.). Small bruise to obverse rim at 7 o'clock, otherwise Good Very Fine.
Medal accompanied by Embarkation List details, medal roll extract, confirming medal and clasp, the roll additionally noting that Private Cousin's medal was "forfeited", and a list of India General Service Medals with Burma 1885-7 clasp forfeited, Cousins included on that list among 11 men from various regiments who forfeited their medal in 1890.
Embarkation list records Cousins as having been born in 1863 and having enlisted into the 1st Somerset Light Infantry on 27/9/1882, sailing for India in 1883 aboard the Euphrates. At the time of embarkation in December 1883 Cousins was 20 years and 3 months old. He presumably would have transferred from the 1st to the 2nd Battalion S.L.I. whilst in India.
This is probably a renamed medal procured by Cousins in order to replace his original medal forfeited in 1890, or perhaps an official late issue, renamed, replacement medal.
