BOY (LATER TRUMPET MAJOR and WARRANT OFFICER II CLASS) THOMAS FREDERICK HOSSELL, 4/7TH ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS. General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (7961746 BOY. J. HOSSELL. 4/7 D.G.). Note incorrect initial in naming details.

BOY (LATER TRUMPET MAJOR and WARRANT OFFICER II CLASS) THOMAS FREDERICK HOSSELL, 4/7TH ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS. General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (7961746 BOY. J. HOSSELL. 4/7 D.G.). Note incorrect initial in naming details. Regimental number, however, is same as on medal roll, which also gives initial as J, obviously the reason that this initial was struck up on Hossells GSM in error. Good Very Fine.

With photocopied medal roll, confirming rank, medal and clasp, photocopied extracts from regimental journal re. Hossell, including two articles with photographs, and an obituary notice from The Northern Echo.

Thomas Frederick Tom Hossell was born on 16 September 1931 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and joined the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in 1945, enlisting as a Boy (i.e. underage) Soldier.

The regimental band had been disbanded during World War ll, but was re-formed following the cessation of hostilities. After enlisting, Hossell was employed as a musician, playing the trumpet in the newly re-formed regimental band.

In June 1946 the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards were deployed to Palestine to quell that region’s unrest resulting from post-war uncertainty and the United Nations proposal to partition Palestine. Initially, the band was left in England, but eventually was ordered to join the 4/7th Dragoon Guards in September 1947. The 4/7th regimental band arrived in Palestine on October 2nd 1947, having traveled by steamer with the bands from the Kings Dragoon Guards and the 15th/l9th Kings Royal Hussars. The regiment remained in Palestine until posted to Tripoli in June 1948.

For his services in Palestine, Hossell received the General Service Medal with 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48.

Hossell was promoted Bandsrnan in 1949, Lance Corporal in 1954. and corporal in 1955. In 1956, he was appointed the regiments Trumpet Major, before transferring to the Royal Army Pay Corps in 1959. Hossell was subsequently posted to the East Africa Unit Pay Office in 1959, the Pay Unit Team, 1st Grenadier Guards, in 1962, the Regimental Pay Office, Newcastle, in 1966, and was appointed Staff Paymaster HQ 3 Division in 1968. After being promoted Staff Sergeant on 23 March 1970, he was posted to the HQ UNFICYP (the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) in May 1971 before being sent to Bahrain one month later. He returned to England later the same year and was posted to the Royal Army Pay Corps Depot and Training Centre in November 1971. Hossell was promoted Warrant Officer II (Staff Quarter Master Sergeant) on 23 March 1973 before being discharged on 30 September 1973.

Hossell served as a 4/7th Dragoon Guards Regimental Association Branch Secretary in the 1990s before passing away on 17 August 1999 in Darlington, Yorkshire.

GSM with Palestine 1945-48 clasp rare named to an under-age Boy soldier.

Hossell would also have been awarded a United Nations Peace-Keeping Medal for Cyprus.