QUEENS SUDAN MEDAL,
QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL,
(Belfast, Diamond Hill, Jo'Burgh, O.F.S., Modder River, Belmont.)
KINGS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL
(South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902)
1914 STAR TRIO,
KHEDIVES SUDAN MEDAL .
To:
9457. Pte/ L.Cpl / Cpl / S.SGT. W. GRIFFITHS. R.A.M.C.
(William Cornelius Griffiths)
(Born at Battersea in 1875. Died 27th June 1950)
Buried in South Benfleet Churchyard
This is a most remarkable group of medals to a man who truly saw service life in all its colour and variety, both in this country and while serving overseas.
This soldier served under the same service number '9457' in the Royal Army Medical Corps through three wars for an incredible period of 28 years and 172 days.
You will notice however that despite his lengthy service he does not have a Long Service Good Conduct Medal. Basically he did the Long Service but without the Good Conduct !!!
His conduct report is quite a read. Some highlights are: Arrested in Egypt for being found drunk in a brothel in the Arab Quarter in Alexandria in 1895 and verbally insulting the military escort. (96 Hours of Imprisonment and Hard Labour) Committing an act of gross indecency with another person (*his girlfriend) in a public place at Woolwich in 1903. Arrested by the civil police and locked up in Woolwich Police Station (fined 20/-)....it goes on !
He was 'right in the thick of it' in the Boer war (almost certainly as a stretcher bearer) and has some of the best battle clasps you will ever see on an N.C.O medic's group. Griffiths then landed in France right at the start of WW1 on 27th August 1914 and although he was later employed as a specialist cook at a stationary hospital he is probably entitled also to an August -November clasp to his 1914 Star as many of these units were initially right with the troops during the initial late August fighting during the Battle of Mons and the retreat
Comes with full copies of his service career and attestation papers, an original memoriam card from his funeral and two red leather boxed and hallmarked silver Universal Cookery and Food Exhibition medals for 19th and 23rd exhibitions in 1908 and 1912.
A REAL CLASSIC AND FIT FOR INCLUSION IN THE FINEST COLLECTION.
SOLD