Description India General Service Medal 1854, bar Perak, 1981 Private H. Reavey, 1st Bn 10th Foot, The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment. Officially engraved: “1981 Pte H. Reavey. 1/10th Foot.” Confirmed on the medal roll. Henry Reavey first appears on the 1871 Army Index as a “Recruit” with the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot in Dublin, Ireland. He then looks to have transferred over to the 10th Foot. From what we can see he had a spotty career with some Court Martials. First being Court Martialled on 27th October 1873 whilst stationed with the 10th Foot in Singapore Tried by Court Martial on 20th April 1875 at Singapore. Lastly tried again by Court Martial on 15th June 1876 at Kuala Kangsa, the Royal Town of Perak. The Perak War took place from 1875 and 1876, between the British and local forces in Perak, a state in North-western Malaysia The Sultan of Lower Perak and other chiefs, attempted to end foreign influence in the region and remove the British Administrator, James W.W. Birch. Birch was disliked by the locals having little respect for local customs leading to him being assassinated, he was taking a bath when a local tribal leader “Lela Pandak Lam” speared him. Today the event of his death is popular in Malaysia and taught in schools, as an early attempt at of an anti-colonial uprising although it is widely debated. Following the killing, the British Empire was obviously enraged, deploying reinforcements including Pte Reavey from the 10th Foot with them. The Perak Malays put up a good fight in the 3 main battles at Bandar Tua, Pasir Salak and Kota Lama Kanan, claiming the life of some British officers and men. The British forces wore them down and captured many of the leaders, including the assassin himself, who was soon after hanged, whilst 2 others were exiled to the Seychelles, including Sultan Abdullah II of Perak, the 26th Sultan, who was amongst those who agreed to the murder, those present at the discussion even ruled out poison as a means, preferring a spear. The 10th Foot in particular saw service at the destruction of the Pasir Salak Stoackde, where they were present with 3 Officers and 125 Men as the Infantry, being assisted by the Royal Artillery and a Naval Brigade. They would see service in most of the various battles fought by the British in the war, Captain William Whitla who led the detachment at Pasir Salak and other battles, would earn a mention in despatches for his services.
