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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (5332 Corpl: G. Anderson. Essex Regt.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (6386 L.Corpl.: C. Pamplin. Essex Regt.)

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (7) Relief of Ladysmith, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (2725 Pte. C. Kent. 1:Essex Regt.), unofficial rivet between sixth and seventh clasp, suspension slack

Charles Henry Kent was born at Bow, Middlesex in 1871 and attested with the Essex Regiment at West Ham on 14 November 1889. He served abroad at Cyprus from 7 March 1891 before being sent on to India on 8 October 1892. Returning to Britain on 6 November 1897 he joined the Army Reserve on 9 November where he was to remain.

Recalled to service on 1 November 1899 he was posted to South Africa on 11 November 1899. They were one of the first British Battalions to reinforce the British in South Africa, playing a prominent role in the Battle of Paardeberg and launching a superb bayonet charge at Driefontein. Kent was to remain in South Africa until 31 April 1901 when he returned to Britain, being discharged there on 10 September 1901.