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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 152

(x) Four: Sergeant C. E. Bolton, Welsh Regiment, late Royal Artillery, who served as a Special Service N.C.O. during the Ashanti 1900 campaign

Ashanti 1900, no clasp (Corpl: C. E. Bolton. R.A.); 1914-15 Star (18465 L. Cpl. C. E. Bolton. R. W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (18465 Sjt. C. E. Bolton. R. Welsh.), traces of lacquer to first, very fine (4)

No Regular British Army unit served in the Ashanti 1900 campaign, approximately 183 Officers and 80 European N.C.O.'s took a Medal - of which 32 were Special Service N.C.O.'s.

Charles Edward Bolton was born in August 1868 at Shoeburyness, Essex and followed his late father into the Royal Artillery, enlisting age 14 years 3 months in October 1882. Initially posted Boy, he was made Trumpeter in September 1883 and Gunner in April 1888. Posted to 8th Company, Eastern Division, Bolton served in Singapore from January 1888 and by June 1889 was in Mauritius, sharing in the construction of the Victoria Battery. Thence serving in South Africa, he was advanced Bombardier in August 1890 but reverted to Gunner for misconduct in March 1891. Made Orderly Room Clerk in May 1900, that September he was posted to join the Ashanti Field Force as a Special Service N.C.O. (Medal without clasp) until January 1901, being returned to England.

Made Clerk to his Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1901 and advanced Sergeant in September 1901, his service was terminated at Londonderry in October 1903, conduct rated:

'Fair. Addicted to drink & has been absolutely useless as an N.C.O.'

Whilst Bolton had three Good Conduct Badges, his character rated 'not good' and no L.S. & G.C. followed. Married at Cardiff in July 1902, he found work as a coal trimmer. By the outbreak of the Great War, Bolton rejoined in October 1914 and served overseas in France from 2 December 1915. Further posted to Cairo, Bolton was released in August 1919 and returned home to Llantrisant Street, Cardiff and went back down the mines. He died of bladder cancer in May 1925; sold together with various related helmet plate and other badges, besides copied research supplied on a USB drive.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400