A scarce M.S.M. group of eight awarded to Company Quarter-Master Sergeant W. Stocker, Bedfordshire Regiment

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (1296 Cr. Sgt. W. Stocker, 1st Bn. Bedford Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State (1296 Col. Sejt. W. Stocker, Bedford Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1296 Clr.-Serjt. W. Stocker, Bedford Regt.); 1914-15 Star (3-8526 C.Q.M. Sjt. W. Stocker, Bedf. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-8526 W.O. Cl. 2 W. Stocker, Bedf. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (C. Sgt. W. A. Stocker, Bedford Regt.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (C. Sjt. W. Stocker, Beds. & Herts. Regt.), this last extremely fine, but the remainder with contact marks and polished, thus good fine and better (8) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiments.

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William Stocker was born in Windsor, Berkshire and enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment in December 1884, aged 18 years.

Advanced to Corporal in July 1886 and to Sergeant in March 1889, he was embarked for India in February 1891, where he remained employed until returning to the U.K. in January 1898, in which period he served with the 1st Battalion in the Relief of Chitral operations and was promoted to Colour-Sergeant.

Posted to the 4th Battalion in January 1898, Stocker witnessed active service in South Africa in the same unit from February 1900 to March 1902, in which conflict he was mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s despatch dated 23 June 1902 (London Gazette 29 July 1902 refers), and won entitlement to the above described Medals and clasps; so, too, awarded a £12 gratuity and ‘special gratuity’ in respect of AO 134 of June 1902.

Awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 172 of 1903, in which year he became an instructor in the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Stocker was finally discharged in July 1906 after 21 years with the Colours. Having then rejoined his old regiment on the outbreak of hostilities, he survived to receive his M.S.M. in AO 230 of 1942.