A Small Collection of Medals to the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Pair: Private W. Ashwell, Royal West Kent Regiment, who was reported as missing in action at Twyfelaar on 13 February 1902

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (5104 Pte. W. Ashwell, 2nd. Rl. W. Kent Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5104 Pte. W. Ashwell. Rl. W. Kent Regt.) light contact marks, very fine (2) £160-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

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William Ashwell was born in Chatham, Kent, in 1880, and attested for the Royal West Kent Regiment at Maidstone on 12 January 1898. Posted to the 2nd Battalion as Private on 24 May 1898, his early service was marred by a conviction and imprisonment for breaking out of barracks and deficiencies of kit. Six month later he returned to the cells for ‘forcing a sentry’. Posted to South Africa 16 March 1900, he soon caught the attention of his superiors for leaving his post whilst on active service; imprisoned for a further 42 days, he rejoined his comrades and was later reported as missing in action at Twyfelaar on 13 February 1902.

Awarded his mounted infantry and swimming certificates in 1903 and 1904, Ashwell at some time transferred to the 13th Mounted Infantry and joined the Army Reserve in 1908. He was discharged upon termination of his first period of engagement on 11 January 1910.

Sold with copied service record and research.