{"product_id":"highland-light-infantry-igs-medal-nwf-1935-mia-france-1940-ww2-4th-black-watch","title":"Highland Light Infantry IGS Medal NWF 1935 MIA France 1940 WW2 4th Black Watch","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIndia General Service Medal – Private James Devlin, Highland Light Infantry. North West Frontier \u0026amp; Palestine Veteran, Deserted in Palestine,  Later Reported Missing with the Black Watch During the Battle of France, 1940\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIndia General Service Medal 1908, \u003ci\u003e1 clasp\u003c\/i\u003e, North West Frontier 1935\u003cb\u003e - 3310711 PTE. J. DEVLIN. H.L.I.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eJ. Devlin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e served with distinction on the turbulent frontiers of the British Empire during the 1930s before returning to Europe for the opening stages of the Second World War. His military career saw service with the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry on both the North West Frontier of India and in Palestine, followed by a transfer to the 4th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) with the British Expeditionary Force in France. His record also carries an intriguing twist, being noted as a deserter whilst serving with the Highland Light Infantry, yet later rejoining the colours and serving once more in wartime. During the retreat to Dunkirk he was officially reported Missing, only for later casualty lists to confirm that he was \"Previously Reported Missing – Now Not Missing.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eLittle is presently known of Devlin's early life, but he enlisted into the Highland Light Infantry, receiving the service number 3310711. By 1935 he was serving with the 2nd Battalion, which formed part of the British forces policing the fiercely contested tribal regions along the North West Frontier of India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe North West Frontier Campaign of 1935 was one of a succession of operations undertaken against hostile tribal groups inhabiting the mountainous border between British India and Afghanistan. Service in the region demanded endurance and resilience, with troops operating in harsh terrain, enduring extreme temperatures and carrying out long patrols through isolated valleys and mountain passes. For his service during these operations Devlin qualified for the India General Service Medal 1908 with the clasp \"North West Frontier 1935\", authorised under Army Order 111 of 1936.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing his service on the Frontier, Devlin also served with the 2nd Highland Light Infantry during the Palestine Campaign, qualifying for the General Service Medal with the clasp \"Palestine\", authorised under Army Order 247 of 1939. The Palestine operations formed part of Britain's efforts to suppress the Arab Revolt of 1936–1939, a prolonged campaign involving security duties, convoy escorts, patrols and anti-insurgency operations throughout the British Mandate. His entitlement to both clasps demonstrates that he served in two of the Empire's most demanding inter-war theatres.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAt some stage following these campaigns, Devlin's service took an unexpected turn. The medal rolls record him as a deserter. Despite this, the story did not end there. Rather than disappearing from military records altogether, Devlin subsequently rejoined the Army, this time serving with the 4th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWith the outbreak of the Second World War, the 4th Black Watch was deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. During the German offensive of May and June 1940, British forces became heavily engaged in desperate fighting while conducting the fighting withdrawal towards the Channel ports.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn 8 June 1940, Private Devlin was reported Missing in France. His name subsequently appeared in Casualty List No. 253, issued on 12 July 1940, reflecting the uncertainty that surrounded many soldiers caught up in the chaos of the retreat and evacuation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFortunately, the uncertainty was eventually resolved. A later notification, published in Casualty List No. 282 on 15 August 1940, confirmed that Private Devlin had been \"Previously Reported Missing – Now Not Missing.\" Whether he had become separated from his unit during the fighting, was temporarily cut off behind enemy lines, or simply could not initially be accounted for is not recorded, but the amendment confirmed that he had survived the campaign.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAlthough further details of his wartime service have yet to come to light, his surviving records paint the picture of an unusually eventful military career. He served on the troubled frontiers of the British Empire, qualified for campaign medals in both India and Palestine, fell foul of military discipline to the extent of being recorded as a deserter, yet nevertheless returned to military service and fought with the Black Watch during the darkest days of 1940, surviving an episode in which he was officially listed as missing during the Battle of France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHis India General Service Medal 1908, bearing the clasp \"North West Frontier 1935\", is correctly named to 3310711 PTE. J. DEVLIN. H.L.I. and retains its original wearing pin, an attractive and increasingly uncommon feature. Together with his confirmed entitlement to the General Service Medal with Palestine clasp and his documented Second World War service with the Black Watch, the medal represents an exceptionally interesting soldier whose career spanned both the final campaigns of Britain's inter-war Empire and the opening battles of the Second World War.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54603697291610,"sku":null,"price":128.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260723_122126.png?v=1787052127","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/highland-light-infantry-igs-medal-nwf-1935-mia-france-1940-ww2-4th-black-watch","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}