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The 3rd Hussars were late entrants to the conflict, arriving from India in December 1901 and taking part in the drives in Orange River Colony.


Pictures courtesy of DNW

QSA (3) Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (2314 R. Qr: Mr: Serjt: F. P. Clark. 3rd Hussars.);
1914 Star (Hon: Lt: & Q.M. F. P. Clark. 3/Hrs.);
BWM 1914-20 (Q.M. & Capt. F. P. Clark.) in named card box of issue;
[ VM ];
Army LS&GC EdVII (2314 Q.M. Serjt: F. P. Clarke. 3rd Hussars) first and last mounted together as worn

Frederick Percy Clark was born in 1868 at Ulceby, North Lincolnshire, the son of Rosa Clark, and was educated at Royal St. Anne’s School, Streatham Hill, Surrey. He attested for the 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars at Manchester on 28 May 1886 and was advanced Corporal in April 1888, Payment Sergeant in June 1888 and Quartermaster Sergeant in February 1892. He served in South Africa during the Boer War as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (medal and 3 clasps).

Commissioned Quartermaster of his regiment with the honorary rank of Lieutenant on 15 November 1905, he served a total of 4 years and 6 months in South Africa and 8 years and 6 months in India before returning to England with his regiment prior to the outbreak of the Great War.

Mobilised on 5 August 1914, Clark served with his regiment on the Western Front as part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade from 16 August 1914 and was present with the regiment in 1914 at the Battles of Mons (and subsequent Retreat), Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne, Messines, Armentières, Ypres and Gheluvelt. He was promoted Captain in November 1915 and served with the 4th Battalion (Dismounted Cavalry Division) in the trenches at Vermelles between 1 January and 15 February 1916 and was also present with the 3rd Hussars at the Somme, 1916, the Battle of Arras, 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai, 1917. He continued to serve in France until May 1918 when he was compelled to return to England owing to ill health attributable to active service. Diagnosed with an aneurysm, he retired from the service on 3 June 1918, and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He died on 8 October 1918, aged 50 years, leaving a widow - H. G. Clark, of 107 Chart Rd., Folkestone - and is buried in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery.

Sold together with the recipient’s metal campaign box, inscribed to front ‘F. P. Clark 3rd (K.O.) Hussars’ 44cm x 31cm x 19cm, containing an archive of items, documents and letters including the following: army shaving strop; wooden baton; 2 ink pots; cigar cutter; gimlet; recipient’s Accounts Book; Programme of the Review in Honour of their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales held at Rawalpindi on 8 December 1905; recipient’s Army Book; Summary of Information 2nd Cavalry Division, Christmas Number. 1914 (2 copies) - a humorous account of the activities of the 2nd Division in the opening phase of the war together with a journal of the Division’s activities from the beginning of the war until 31 August 1914; Royal St. Anne’s Redhill School Magazines, April 1917 and March 1918 - the latter showing the recipient listed as having been wounded on active service; 3rd Hussars Christmas Card 1916; another 3rd Hussars Christmas card - undated; 11 maps of France and Belgium; 2 booklets of postcards showing scenes of Albert post bombardment and a quantity of similar loose postcards; War Office transmittal letter to accompany 1914 Star, BWM and VMs.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3009 L. Corpl: E. Slyfield. 3rd Hussars), rivet between second and third clasps missing, otherwise good very fine

Edward John Slyfield was born in 1873 and served with the Oxfordshire Militia before reaching his majority and enlisting with the 3rd Hussars at Wokingham on 1 September 1891. Promoted Lance Corporal on 29 August 1894 he was posted to the Army Reserve on 1 September 1898. Recalled for service the next year on 18 January 1900 Slyfield entered the war in South Africa on 26 February 1900 seeing service there until 9 November. Promoted Corporal on 9 July 1902 he was again posted to the reserve on 31 May 1903.

On the QSA roll for the Remount Department (WO100/234/29) for CC and OFS.