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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 147

King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2709 Pte B. Guest. Worcester: Regt), good very fine

Benjamin Guest was born at Old Hill, Dudley, Worcestershire in 1872 and worked as a rivet maker prior to enlisting on 4 July 1890. He must have regretted his decision as soon afterwards he deserted at Curragh Camp and was arrested on 16 June 1891. Signing a confession he was imprisoned for 85 days and his service reckoned from the date of his capture.

Posted to India he spent almost five years there before returning for another three years of home service. Arriving in South Africa on 17 December 1899 he earned a medal with clasps for Cape Colony and the Orange Free State but was invalided from service. Oddly his service records have him leaving South Africa in August 1900 yet he does appear on the roll for the King's South Africa Medal.

In spite of this Guest returned to serve in the Great War initially with the Worcestershire Regiment as before. However he was transferred at some stage into the Military Foot Police with the number P/10137. He was finally discharged from service on 11 May 1919, listing his address as 4 Bowling Green, Old Hill, Dudley.

Further entitled to the Queen's South Africa Medal, British War and Victory Medals.

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Sold for
£85

Starting price
£40