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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 191

(x) Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1902-04, Jidballi (2323 Pte. E. Onslow, 4th K.R.R.C.), edge bruising and polished, good fine

Edward Onslow was born at Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire in June 1881 and enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in December 1899, aged 18 years.

Drafted to the 4th Battalion, he was one of 140 men chosen to form the 19th Mounted Infantry Company for service in South Africa in April 1901; later to become No. 2 Company, 25th Mounted Infantry. They were initially employed in Colonel G. E. Benson's Column and suffered heavy casualties at Brakenlaagte in October 1901 (Queen's Medal & 4 clasps).

Onslow next witnessed active service in the Somaliland operations of 1903-04, including the action at Jidballi, once again as a Mounted Infantryman (Medal & 2 clasps). He returned home in July 1904 and was placed on the Army Reserve in November 1906.

Called-up in August 1914, he served briefly in the 6th (Special Reserve) Battalion, K.R.R.C. but was discharged by a medical board at the end of the year. Notwithstanding his medical problems, he then enlisted in the Army Service Corps and went to France in 621 Motor Transport Company in April 1915. He was again discharged as medically unfit in February 1916 and died in July 1919; above details courtesy of the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, Winchester.


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Sold for
£200