King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (16750 Corpl: H. E. Austin. R.H.A.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (7382 Pte. R. Ducker. Norf. R.) severe edge bruise partially obscuring rank on first; initial and surname officially re-impressed on second, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £60-£80

Henry Edmund Austin was born in Margate, Kent, in 1876. A clerk, he attested at London for the Royal Artillery on 13 October 1896, joining ‘A’ depot at Woolwich soon thereafter. Sent to South Africa with ‘R’ Battery from 24 October 1899, he witnessed a number of engagements before transferring to ‘N’ Battery on 20 January 1901 (also entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Wittebergen, and Relief of Kimberley). Austin returned home to England on 8 June 1904, being discharged on 12 October 1908.

Rowland Ducker was born in the small village of Swanton Novers, Norfolk, in 1888. A moulders labourer, his Army Service Record notes that he attested for the Norfolk Regiment on 10 January 1907 and served at Warley, Pietmaritzburg and Gibraltar. Posted as telegraphist to Karachi and Quetta during the Great War, the recipient later made a request to the War Office for an M.I.D. oak leaves emblem, his papers stating: ‘Brought to the notice of the Government of India for valuable service rendered in India in connection with the war, dated Simla, 3.6.18.’