WW1 1914 Star trio, M1-8738 C. Robinson, ASC, 1st Indian Cavalry Division

A WW1 1914 Star trio, often called the Mons Star trio, to M1-8738 Private Charles Robinson, Army Service Corps. He served as a lorry driver or mechanic with the motor supply column of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division, a British Indian Army formation. He landed in France on 22 November 1914, the very last day that counted for the 1914 Star.

All three medals are in good condition, correctly named, with their original ribbons. A nice genuine set of original medals. Comes with a copy of his medal index card.

The medals

• 1914 Star, named on the reverse: M1-8738 PTE C. ROBINSON. A.S.C.
• British War Medal, impressed on the rim: M1-08738 PTE. C. ROBINSON. A.S.C.
• Victory Medal, impressed on the rim: M1-08738 PTE. C. ROBINSON. A.S.C.

The pair carries the later form of his number, with the extra 0. This matches the second number written on his medal index card exactly.

A British soldier with the Indian Army

Charles Robinson was not Indian Army himself. He was a British volunteer in the Army Service Corps (ASC), posted to 82 Company ASC. His medal card records the unit as the 1st Indian Cavalry Supply Column.

82 Company was formed in October 1914 to supply the 1st Indian Cavalry Division. A supply column like this had around 340 men and more than 60 lorries, cars and motorcycles. It carried food and forage from the railheads up to the cavalry.

His number tells its own story. The M1 prefix was for motor transport men who volunteered in the first weeks of the war. M1 numbers were issued from September 1914 to about early November 1914. So he joined up, was trained and was in France within weeks.

Last day for the 1914 Star

The 1914 Star went to men who served in France or Belgium between 5 August and midnight on 22 November 1914. Robinson's card gives his date of entry as 22 November 1914. If he had landed one day later, he would have got the 1914-15 Star instead. His card shows no clasp.

The 1st Indian Cavalry Division

• Sailed from Bombay in October 1914 and landed at Marseilles in November 1914.
• Its regiments were Indian cavalry brigaded with British regiments, such as the 1st King's Dragoon Guards.
• Spent the winter of 1914 to 1915 fighting dismounted in the trenches between Festubert and Givenchy.
• Renamed the 4th Cavalry Division on 26 November 1916.
• Broken up in March 1918. The British units stayed in France. The Indian regiments went to Egypt and Palestine, where they fought in the final campaign against the Turks, including the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918.

Service record

• Name: Charles Robinson
• Number: M1/8738, later M1/08738
• Rank: Private
• Corps: Army Service Corps, later Royal Army Service Corps
• Unit: 82 Company ASC, 1st Indian Cavalry Supply Column
• Entered France: 22 November 1914
• Medal rolls: 1914 Star, ASC/27 page 15