*DIED OF DISEASE* MAY 1900 BOER WAR MEDAL 962 ISTED RIFLE BRIGADE PRE WW1

Offered is a Queen's South Africa Medal, with 2 clasps TUGELA HEIGHTS, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, impressed named 962 P^T  A. ISTED. RIFLE BRIGADE. Comes with copy medal roll, casualty list, soldiers effects and newspaper article.

Arthur Walter Isted was born on the 22/10/1871 at Kensington. He enlisted on the 3/12/1890 at Hammersmith, the 1891 London census records his occupation as ‘Soldier”. He married Edith light in 1899 with his occupation now being ‘Labourer’, he was probably time expired by that date. With the outbreak of the war in South Africa, Isted would have been recalled to the colours.

The 1st Battalion sailed on the ship 'German', 28th October 1899, arrived at the Cape on 20th November, and was sent on to Durban. they formed the 4th Brigade. At Vaal Krantz on 5th and 6th February their casualties were 5 men killed and 5 officers and 76 men wounded.

On 18th February they attacked the position between Greenhill and Monte Cristo. During the next four days, the battalion was constantly fighting, being the leading battalion on the left of the line in the final assault on the 27th. In the fourteen days' fighting the Rifle Brigade's losses, were approximately 14 men killed, 8 officers and 117 men wounded.

The 4th Brigade took part in the turning movement via Helpmakaar in the first half of May 1900, and while the 2nd, 10th, and 11th Brigades turned the Laing's Nek position via Botha's Pass, the 4th sat in front of it. Pte Isted died of enteric fever (usually caught from drinking polluted water) 8/5/1900 at Newcastle (Natal). His widow was left the princely sum of 5 shillings. This could explain the pawnbrokers mark on the rear of the medal.