Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Corporal E. Thompson, Army Ordnance Corps, late Ordnance Store Corps

Ashanti Star 1896, unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (2343 Serjt., A.O.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (2343 Corpl., A.O.C.) contact marks and edge bruising, generally very fine and better, scarce (3) £500-600

Edwin Thomas Thompson was born in Woolwich, Kent. A Smith by occupation, he attested for the Ordnance Store Corps at Woolwich on 8 September 1886, aged 19 years, 8 months. Promoted to 2nd Corporal in November 1895, he served on the West Coast of Africa, November 1895-March 1896 and saw service in the Ashanti Expedition of 1895-96. In April 1896 he was transferred to the Army Ordnance Corps and was promoted to Corporal in January 1899 and to Serjeant in March 1900. With the A.O.C. he served in the Boer War, October 1899-April 1902. Returning to Home Service after the war, in October 1904 he was tried by District Court Martial at Spite Island, Cork Harbour, for ‘an act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’ and was sentenced to be reduced to the rank of Corporal. As such he was discharged to a pension at Haulbowline on 7 September 1907, on the termination of his second period of engagement. With copied service papers.