Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘East Africa’ O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Ward, Nairobi Defence Force, late Imperial Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)

The Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) 1st type; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Capt., 18/Impl. Yeo.); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps (Capt., Imp. Yeo.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, East Africa 1905 (J. C. Ward) high relief bust; 1914-15 Star (Major, E. Afr. U.L.); British War and Victory Medals (A. Lt. Col.); Jubilee 1935, mounted as worn, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (8) £550-650

O.B.E. London Gazette 18 November 1918: ‘For distinguished service in connection with Military Operations in East Africa.’

Joseph Corbett Ward served in the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, from September 1895 until he volunteered for service in South Africa, in April 1900, with the 18th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). He remained in South Africa after the war and was employed in the Transvaal Civil Service 1902-04. He took part in the Sotik Expedition, British East Africa 1905, as a Political Officer, and was later Principal Regristrar of Documents, East African Police. He was attached to the 3rd King’s African Rifles in 1914, and was Post Commandant, Lines of Communications, Nairobi Defence Force, 1915-18. Granted temporary rank of Major for services in East Africa and ended the war as Acting Lieutenant-Colonel (Despatches three times). Served as Staff Officer and Intelligence Officer in Kenya, 1920-25, and was Secretary at the Office of H.M. Eastern African Dependancies in London, 1926. Sold with further research.