A Scarce QUEEN'S & KING'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDALS.
To:
5776. Pte. J.BURROWS. 2nd E.SURREY REGt.
1914-1915 Trio. 20448 Pte. J.W. BURROWS.10/CAN.INF:

An Attractive BRITISH (Boer War) CANADIAN (WW1) group of five.

[BIOGRAPHY]

Burrows, who was from Bethnal Green, London, having initially been a "Heel Builder" in the shoe trade. He had already served with the 3rd Royal West Kents, when he enlisted into 2/East Surrey Regt at Woking on 28th December 1898 age 18.8. Right from the start of his service he was in regular trouble and went AWOL on several occasions.
He was finally Court Marshalled for Desertion in 1900 and given 56 days prison with hard labour. Amazingly he served alongside non-other than Pte-Sgt Albert Edward CURTIS V.C. (Who's medals we owned back in 1982) but was actually in jail when Curtis won his VC for rescuing the seriously wounded Colonel Harris under fire on 23rd February 1900.

Pte Burrows finally left the British army on 10th June 1913 when he emigrated to Canada where he joined the 103rd Calgary Rifles. War caught up with him yet again and he is next seen signing up for the 10th Bn CANADIAN INFANTRY on 25th September 1914 with whom he served in France during The Great War. Burrows entered France on 15th February 1915.

With two full sets of Boer War & WW1 attestation papers & copy rolls for QSA & KSA confirming clasps TRANSVAAL, CAPE COLONY. & SA 1901/02

A totally original group in EF. Swing mounted on long pin and as worn by the recipient on original ribbons.

£595