Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (13871 Gnr: E. A. Payne, M’ Bty: R.H.A.) minor edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine £80-£100

Edward Albert Payne, a silversmith, was born in Islington in 1876 and attested for the Royal Artillery in London on 19 February 1896. Posted to “J” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery on 8 April 1896, he transferred to “M” Battery as Gunner on 13 October 1897 and served in South Africa from 17 February 1900 to 4 December 1900. He was discharged on 9 February 1908 and died on 23 April 1937, as reported in the St. Pancras Gazette on 30 April 1937:
‘Kentish Town Public House Tragedy: Man falls to death from Window. A fatal fall from the window of a Kentish Town public-house was the subject of a St. Pancras inquest on Tuesday. It concerned the death of Edward Albert Payne, aged 62, a window cleaner of Foxham-road, Islington, who died at Highgate Hospital on 23rd April. The widow, Mrs. Payne, gave evidence that her husband was a master window cleaner and he had been going to clean the windows of the Bull and Gate public house, Kentish-town road, for some time.’