TOPIC: Medals to the Rifle Brigade

Picture courtesy of Spink

He was wounded at Blood River Poort on 17 September 1900, whilst attached to Gough's Mounted Infantry: Lieutenant L. A. E. Price-Davies won the Victoria Cross on the same occasion.

Queen’s Sudan (1899 Pte. A. Jones. 2/R. Bde:);
QSA (6) CC TH OFS RoL Tr LN (1899 Pte. A. Jones, Rifle Brigade);
KSA (2) (1899 Pte. A. Jones, Rifle Brigade.);
Khedive’s Sudan (1) Khartoum

Albert Jones was born at Stowmarket, Suffolk in March 1868. Having served in India, Hong Kong and Singapore, he saw active service in the 2nd Battalion in the Sudan.

Transferred to the 1st Battalion, Jones was one of five casualties of 'D' Company, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade on 17 September 1900, when Major Gough's 24th Mounted Infantry fought a lively engaement at Blood River Poort, near Dundee.

Picture courtesy of DNW

Sudan (0) (4107 Pte. H. Watts. R. Bde.);
QSA (2) DoL Belf (4107 Pte. H. E. Watts, Rifle Brigade);
KSA (2) (4107 Pte. H. Watts. Rifle Brigade);
Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.S. H. Watts.);
Khedive’s Sudan (1) Khartoum (4107. Pte. H. Watts. 2. R. Bde.)

Metropolitan Police struck silver shooting medal, obv. uniformed bust of George V with legend ‘George Prince of Wales, K.G.’, dated 1910 below the bust, rev. inscription ‘Challenge Cup presented by George, Prince of Wales, to the Metropolitan Police for their best miniature rifle shot’, hallmarked Birmingham 1909, straight bar suspension, named on the edge (H. Watts)

Horace Edmund Watts was born in Islington, London, in December 1877. He joined the Rifle Brigade on 1 November 1895 and served with the 2nd Battalion in the Nile Expedition 1898, the occupation of Crete 1898, and in South Africa from October 1899, including the Defence of Ladysmith. He was discharged on 19 March 1903 and was a reservist until October 1907.

Watts joined the Metropolitan Police on 15 June 1903 and was posted to “M” Division. Promoted to Sergeant in March 1910, he was then transferred to “K” Division until promoted to Station Sergeant in March 1919 and transferred to “N” Division. He resigned on pension, 18 June 1928.

A Challenge Cup was presented by the Prince of Wales in May 1910 for the best miniature rifle shot, the winner also to receive a silver medal. Watts was one of the first to win this Challenge Cup which was still being competed for in the late 1970’s, though the practise of awarding a silver medal has long ceased.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) RoK Paard (3329 Pte. F. Marvel. Rifle Brigade.)

F. Marvel attested for the Rifle Brigade, and served with the 4th Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, and was wounded in action at Paardeberg on 18 February 1900.

Picture courtesy of DNW

Sudan (4055. Pte. W. Rockett. 2/R. Bde.);
QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (4055 Cpl. W. A. Rockett, Rifle Brigade);
KSA (2) (4055 Corpl: W. Rockett. Rifle Brigade);
Khedive’s Sudan (0) unnamed

A group very similar to the one to Rockett.


Picture courtesy of DNW

Sudan (4166 Pte. F. Steward. 2/R. Bde.);
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast, Orange Free State (4166 Cpl. F. Steward, Rifle Brigade) unofficial rivets between top two clasps;
King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4166 Corpl: F. Steward. Rifle Brigade);
Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp, unnamed as issued

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (1) Defence of Ladysmith (4031 Pte. W. J. Best. Rifle Brigade.);
KSA (1) South Africa 1902 (4031 Pte. W. J. Best. Rifle Brigade.)

W. J. Best served with the Rifle Brigade in South Africa during the Boer War, and was severely wounded at Ladysmith on 11 December 1899.

Additionally entitled to the clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and Transvaal.

The KSA (1) is verified: