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Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (3159 Pte S. Parker 1st Bn E. Lanc: Regt), with small hole to edge at 12 o’clock, possibly from previous swivel mount;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3159 Pte. S. Parker, E. Lanc: Regt);
KSA (2) (3159 Pte S. Parker. E. Lanc: Regt);
1914-15 Star (6726 Pte. S. Parker, E. Lan. R.);
BWM and VM 1914-1919 (6726 Pte. S. Parker. E. Lan. R.).

Private Smith Parker, of Burnley, Lancashire, served with the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment at the Relief of Chitral in 1895, and
again during the Boer War of 1899-1902. He re-enlisted for Great War service on 2 September 1914, and was later discharged as a result
of sickness on 23 January 1919 at the age of 45.

From the next Morton and Eden auction.

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, South Africa 1902 (3301 Pte G. Lambert, E. Lanc: Regt),
[ 1914-15 Trio ]

Private George Lambert, of Finsbury, London, is confirmed as having served with the East Lancashire Regiment (Mounted Infantry) during the Boer War in South Africa, where he was shot through the hand on 5 June 1900.

He later served in the Great War with the 1st KRRC, with whom he was killed in action on 24 January 1915.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (3244 Pte W. Jackson, E. Lanc: Regt);
KSA (2) (3244 Pte W. Jackson. E. Lanc: Regt);
Army MSM EdVII (3244 Pte W. Jackson. E. Lanc Regt).

Private William Jackson was born in 1873 at St Mary’s, Cavan, Ireland. He enlisted for service with the East Lancashire Regiment at Burnley on 2 July 1891, having previously worked as a Farm Labourer, and saw service at home and in Gibraltar prior to the outbreak of the Boer War. Receiving the Queen’s South Africa and King’s South Africa Medals for this service (confirmed as above), he returned to England in late 1902, remaining there until 1904 when they sailed for India – where they would remain for the next seven years. Jackson returned home in 1911 and was discharged from further service on 28 June 1912. He had completed a total of 21 years with the East Lancashire Regiment and received his MSM as a result. Members of his family appear to have emigrated to Australia, and it is likely that he joined them there in later life.

From the next Morton and Eden auction.

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (5769 Pte F. Morley, E. Lanc: Regt);
KSA (2) (5769 Pte T. Morley. E. Lanc: Regt);
1914-15 Star (5769 Pte. F. Morley. E. Lan. R.);
British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1919 (5769 Pte. F. Morley. E. Lan. R.).

Group court-mounted on card for display, the first two heavily polished, possible correction to service number of first,
about fine only, remainder good very fine

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Lieut. J. H. Forshaw, E: Lanc: Rgt:) engraved naming;
1914-15 Star (Capt. J. H. Forshaw. R. Berks. R.);
British War and Victory Medals (Major J. H. Forshaw.)

John Horrocks Forshaw was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the East Lancashire Regiment on 10 January 1900, and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War.

He transferred to the West India Regiment on 12 September 1900, and then as a Captain to the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 1 July 1914. He served with the 45th Infantry Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front from 28 March 1915, and for his services during the Great War was advanced Major and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917).

There wasn't much detail regarding George Lambert when his QSA came up for auction with Morton and Eden 7 months ago. A wound to the hand during the Boer war, his death during WW1. However,  when the medal arrived with the accompanying paperwork (which was not mentioned regarding the on line auction notes ) It was apparent that there was an interesting backstory to be discovered. With additional research and a little detective work, the purchase of Private Lamberts medal was a pleasantly rewarding one.


George Charles Lambert was born on the 13th April 1873 in Finsbury London. He was baptised on the 4th of May 1873 at St Leonard's Shoreditch. George was one of eleven children and lived with his parents Louisa and James. The 1881 census has the Lambert family residing at Sheperton Road Islington London. His school years were spent in the same vicinity and at the age of 18 he was working as a walking stick maker in the borough of Lambeth 1891.
It was during this year that George decided to join the colours. Sometime during July / August 1891 George made his way to Burnley  Lancashire to join the East Lancashire regiment on the 10th August.
He was recorded as a labourer of fair complexion with grey eyes and brown hair, average height at around 5 foot 5 inches. No tattoos recorded, however a scar at the back of head was noted. Private Lambert served from 1891 until he was discharged unfit for service in 1904.

During his time in the East Lancashire regiment he passed his mounted infantry exam in 1896 , served in Gibraltar,  had two postings to South Africa.  His first posting to S.A was from January 1900 until his wounding and return to England in August 1900.

The 1st Battalion sailed on the Bavarian about 18th January 1900, and arrived at the Cape about 3rd February. Along with the 2nd Cheshire, 2nd South Wales Borderers, and 2nd North Staffordshire, they formed the 15th Brigade under Major General A G Wavell, and part of the VIIth Division under Lieutenant General Tucker.

The battalion was said to have done well at Karee Siding on 29th March 1900. They lost that day 5 men killed and 14 wounded. At the crossing of the Zand River on 10th May they also did their portion of the task well.

It was during the end of May and the beginning of June 1900, George found himself on the outskirts of Pretoria with his battalion and was witness to the advance on Pretoria.

The fight for Pretoria was fierce, and lasted several days.



On Whit-Monday the main body of Roberts force was in a position to start at daybreak, and marched about ten miles under the enemy's fire, to the Six Mile Spruit, (both banks of which were occupied by Boers), six miles from the capital.

Henry's and Ross's Mounted Infantry, with the West Somerset, Dorset, Bedford, and Suffolk Companies of Yeomanry, had a fine chance of showing their marksmanship, and despite the leaden hail of nail-like bullets from hundreds of Mausers, quickly dislodged the foemen from the south bank, and pursued them northwards for nearly a mile, when they were stopped by guns which the enemy had concealed on a commanding hill.

Heavy naval guns and the Royal Artillery were hurried forward, as fast as oxen and mules could draw them over the rough and rolling hills, and these were supported by Stephenson's brigade of Pole-Carew's Division. A few rounds silenced the enemy's artillery, and then a large body of Boers tried to turn our left flank. But the Mounted Infantry and Yeomanry, supported by Maxwell's brigade of Tucker's Division, foiled this movement completely, yet not without the aid of Ian Hamilton's troops, who had been three miles off, and closed up smartly.

The line of advance lay over rugged and stony ridges, and was therefore not easy to negotiate. The enemy's front extended along the hills for a distance of twelve miles, and rifle fire was opened on our mounted infantry directly they appeared, compelling them to fall back for cover.

Our guns, however, were speedily in action. They had previously been moved well to the front in readiness for some such contingency as had now actually arisen. The field batteries rained shell on the opposite ridge, while the heavy naval and siege guns were hurried along the road to a nek commanding the forts and hills.

A terrific bombardment ensued. Shell after shell burst in the forts and emplacements with destructive effect, and others were sent right over the hills with the view of damaging the railway.

It was while the artillery were thus engaged that the Boers, assuming the offensive, made an attempt to turn our right flank. The manoeuvre was frustrated, however, by the Guards' brigade, who deployed into line to meet it. On the left the 14th brigade was also attacked, while the 75th battery shelled at close range a bush-covered ridge which the enemy held in force.

After several hours of long distance firing the whole of the infantry advanced, sweeping across the valley in gallant style, and gaining the crest of the hills overlooking Pretoria in the face of only slight opposition. From there it was possible to see the Boers retreating into the town and passing through it in disorderly crowds.

Further to the west, on our extreme left, General Ian Hamilton had also advanced, sending round the West Australian Mounted Infantry and the New South Wales Lancers, under Col. De Lisle, to turn the Boer right. The men led their horses up a steep and rocky ascent, and down the other side, and then re-mounting galloped straight across the valley towards Pretoria.

In the meantime the Gordon Highlanders and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry engaged the enemy from the north, where they were holding the last ridge but one under a heavy rifle fire. But the fear of being surrounded was again too much for the Boers. Seeing Col. De Lisle's men behind them, they turned and fled, leaving Pretoria open before us.

Lord Roberts would have liked to complete the rout, only the light failed with shortening days, and the main British army bivouacked in sight of the capital. The, Guards' brigade was near to the most southern of the five forts, and less than four miles from the town.

The camp that night was a scene of excitement and exhilaration, though, after twelve hours' marching and fighting, the men were tired as well as the horses and cattle; still they were eager for the dawn of Tuesday the 5th of June to complete their expedition.
It was during the 5th of June that Private George Lambert got a little more than he bargained for as he entered the outskirts of Pretoria.

On further research regarding Private Lambert's wound which was recorded as a gunshot to the hand, I was able to dig a little deeper and this is what his commanding officer reported on the incident. I am not 100% sure who this officer was but I have a hunch it may have been Lieutenant B G Lewis, who I believe went on to be a Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment.


Although for me disapointment in not taking part in the procession in the town(Pretoria). We turned off to a stream which ran through the valley  and watered our horses and rested,waiting for orders. Shortly
after this, a man of mine called Lambert a 1st class cur was brought up to me with a bullet wound right through the hand.
It appears that he and 3 others had loitered behind, probably to loot and passing a house, a woman had called to him and told him she had a revolver to give up, and when she produced it, he put out his hand to take it and she had fired at him hitting him in the hand.
I immediately sent a corporals guard and posted it over the house to prevent the woman from bolting and got the revolver.  It was loaded in six chambers and 3 shots had been fired from it. The woman was very frightened  and refused to speak. Personally,  I was rather pleased as Lambert was a blaggard and a first class funk in a fight and was just the sort of man who would break away from the company and get drunk or steal if the opportunity occurred.


Private Lambert was Invalided home during August 1900. He remained in England for nearly 2 years. The 1901 census has George living with his mother and siblings at Coppermill Lane Tottenham Road and recorded him as a soldier in furlough. However in 1902 Private Lambert found himself back in South Africa for another 155 days before returning in September 1902. On his return it was apparent that there were issues with George and his well being. He was discharged medically unfit in September 1904. Further research finds that his pension was later defferred as Private George Lambert was diagnosed insane.

I haven't been able to ascertain what type of insanity Lambert had, I couldn't find any medical record. However, it is believed he was sent to Banstead Asylum, Belmont Sutton London. Without any firm evidence on George's state of mind, it was common for returning soldiers to be diagnosed with melancholia. This would have certainly raised awareness with his family and the conditions brought on by this form of insanity. Melancholia is a state of mental depression, in which misery is unreasonable either in relation to its apparent cause, or in the peculiar form it assumes. It was regarded melancholia as a form of insanity, characterised by depression and an intensity of ideas. Often in cases of melancholia intense depression was for a considerable time free from any suicidal desire.
Simple melancholia constituted the incipient stage of the disease and was characterised by depression. Those afflicted with the condition experienced feelings of misery that were only a slight exaggeration of their natural state of mind, but nonetheless provided no pleasure in life.
Families were sometimes unable to deal with this and the asylum was the only answer except for hitting the bottle or suicide. This is of course my assumption and maybe way off the mark. However, George did receive help and in 1909 he was back with his family. The 1911 census has the family living in Clarence Road Walthemstow. He found employment as a stoker and engineer at the local brewery.
In 1859 there were two, one of them being William Hawes, who built the steam-powered Walthamstow Brewery in St. James Street. The Essex Brewery Co. Ltd. was formed in 1871 to buy Hawes's brewery, but apparently failed to attract subscribers, for the brewery was acquired by Collier Bros., who operated it as the Essex Brewery, until 1922. It was then sold to Tollemache's Breweries Ltd., to whom it still belonged in 1968.
In 1914 George was a porter and living with his brother, there is no record of a wife or children. When WW1 began this 1st class funk and blaggard who apparently shyed away from conflict during the A B W decided to give soldiering another go. September 1914 he enlisted as a riflemen in the 1st Battalion KRRC aged 41 at Holborn. By January 1915 Private 5155 G Lambert was dead having been killed in action near Richebourg Lavoue. January 24th 1915 D company KRRC
A quiet day fine but cloudy. There was not much sniping but we were unlucky and had a 2nd Lieutenant killed by a sniper in the right hand part of D company trenches, close to the point of the salient which the line formed. We also had 4 riflemen killed and 1 wounded on that day.

Private George Lambert 3301 East Lancs and 5155 KRRC was killed on that day aged 41. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Military Cemetery. He was entitled to his WW1 trio and of course his QSA.

If you have managed to get through to the end of this post, I thank you. As always, if there are any errors or anomalies they are solely down to me, and any additional information or corrections are most welcomed.

Best regards


Dave........