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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 557

Pair: Private H. Bridges, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Queen's South Africa 1899-192, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2775 Pte H. Bridges, 1st L.N.Lanc: Regt); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2775 Pte H. Bridges. L.N.Lanc: Regt.), minor contact marks, very fine (2)

Harry Bridges was born at Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in June 1865, the son of Lucy Bridges of Bourton, Gloucestershire. Apprenticed to the Cheltenham Gasworks in his youth he attested for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Bristol on 18 June 1889. Having seen home service for the better part of a year Bridges was posted to India with 1st Battalion on 21 February 1890. He was to serve there for the next six years before transferring to Ceylon for another year, finally returning home on 12 January 1897.

Posted to the Army Reserve on 31 January 1897 Bridges was to re-join the colours only the next year on 10 April 1898. Posted to South Africa on 5 October 1899, presumably as part of a draft of reinforcements for the 1st Battalion already serving in Natal. Bridges was to miss the trails of the Siege of Kimberly. He appears not to have been present with the other half Battalion with Lord Methuen's Brigade which saw action at the Modder River in November. Likely stationed in Cape Colony during the active phase of the war he certainly join the Battalion for the guerrilla stage.

Bridges conduct during the war appears not to have impressed his superiors and he was imprisoned for a month between April-May 1900 as a result of 'conduct to the prejudice of Good order'. Despite this he remained in South Africa until 10 June 1902, returning to Britain he was soon discharged on 17 June. Bridges listed his mother's home, Belle House, Leckenham as his intended residence. He appears to have moved to Pontypridd, Wales where he worked in the mining industry, he died there in the spring of 1938; sold together with copied research including census data and service papers.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£100