Medal(s) & Clasp Verification: Private James Tate is confirmed entitled to medal and clasp per the published transcribed Army of India Medal Roll referenced below:- Army of India Medal 'Ava': The Army of India Medal Roll 1799-1826 (Gould & Douglas-Morris. 1974)- Maharjpoor Star 1843: The recipients service papers refer for service with 40th Regiment of FootThe total number of Army of India Medal awarded to 'All-Ranks' of the 89th Regiment of Foot is 204, all of which were awarded with single clasp 'Ava'James Tate, an Ulsterman was a native of the parish of Down, County Down, Ireland, where he was born in 1807. Prior to enlisting in the British Army, James was employed as a 'shoemaker' He enlisted in the British Army, at Newry, Ireland, on 3 March 1825. and on the same date was posted to the 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot at Newry on 3 March 1825. Soldiering in India. certainly appears to have had great appeal to James Tate, as he would subsequently go on to see in excess of two decades - a staggering 20 years 17 days - of service in the East Indies, which included including campaign service in two different campaigns with two different regiments of the British ArmyFirstly he participated with the 89th in the actions of the First Burmese War (Medal & clasp). James then volunteered for transfer to the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot in September 1830. His service record includes various periods of imprisonment during his career and was on numerous occasions up before Regimental Court Martial. He xext transferred joined the 6th (Royal Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot in November 1835 and finally he joined the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot in April 1842. With the latter regiment he was present at the Battle of Maharajpoor in December 1843 (Bronze Star) and was discharged in April 1846, clearly surviving long enough to claim his retroactive Army of India Medal, with clasp 'Ava'The service papers - a very good detailed set - for James Tate are extant and accessible at The National ArchivesThe cover sheet of the service record is marked 'Glasgow', indicating that after returning to the United Kingdom, his intended place of future residence was Glasgow, ScotlandRoyal Irish Fusiliers: On 1 July 1881 the Childers Reforms came into effect at which time the 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot was amalgamated with the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot to become the 2nd Battalion Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers)Condition: About GVF