Four: Lance-Corporal J. T. Reading, Bedfordshire Regiment, later County of London Yeomanry

China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (6370 Pte. J. Redding [sic]. 1st. Bedfordshire Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (6370 Pte. G. Redding [sic]. Bedford Regt.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Thomas Reading.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (260027 Pte. -A.L. Cpl.- J T. Reading. 1/Co: of Lond: Yeo:) contact marks to first two, otherwise very fine and better (4) £400-500

John Thomas Reading was born in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, in 1877, and attested for the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1895. He served with the Regiment in India, and was one of 11 men from the Regiment seconded for duty in China during the Boxer Rebellion, serving as a Hospital Orderly with the British Field Hospital (Medal roll states entitled to a no clasp medal only). Returning to India, he then proceeded with the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment to South Africa, and served during the last year of the Boer War. On returning to the U.K. he obtained his discharge from the Bedfordshire Regiment, and subsequently attested for the County of London Yeomanry (Territorial Force). In civilian life he was a postman in the London Postal District, and was awarded his Imperial Service Medal in 1938 (London Gazette 21 January 1938).