PRE WW1 BOER WAR MEDALS 5559 THOMAS WALKER 3RD BATTALION THE GRENADIER GUARDS

Queens South Africa Medal 1899 – 1902 with 6 clasps, BELMONT, MODDER RIVER, DRIEFONTEIN,  JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL & BELFAST, impressed named 5559 P^TE J.T. WALKER. GREN:GDS:; King's South Africa Medal, with date clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901 & SOUTH AFRICA 1902, impressed named 5559 P^TE J.T. WALKER. GRENADIER GUARDS. Medals swing mounted as worn, with pin attachment. Comes with copies service papers, medal rolls & national census.

James Thomas Walker was born on the 7^th June 1875 at Trafalgar Farm, Temple Guiting, Gloucestershire. He originally enlisted into the Royal Artillery on the 12^th November 1895 at Bristol, however by the 18^th November 1895, he had transferred to the 3^rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.

He served with them in England until the 22/9/1899 when the battalion was posted to Gibraltar, however after only 33 days, they were sent to South Africa, where he served 26/10/99 - 6/10/1902. He returned to England 7/10/02 and transferred to the reserve 12/11/02 serving untill27/11/1911. It is possible that he served in WW1. The 1911 census records he was working as a ‘Army pensioner, blast furnace labourer’. He died on the 23/3/1954 at 17 Salisbury Rd, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Copy of death entry states 'aged 78 - retired furnace labourer'.

The 3rd Battalion sailed from Gibraltar in the Ghoorkha on 25th October 1899, and arrived at the Cape about 15th November. Along with the 1st and 2nd Coldstreams and the 1st Scots Guards they composed the 1st or Guards Brigade, under Major General Sir H E Colvile.

The 3^rd Battalion Grenadier Guards saw some heavy fight throughout the war, the casualty list for 1899 is particularly long.