Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Sergeant F. Judges, East Kent Regiment, wounded at Dabar, 16 September 1897

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (3165 Lce. Corpl., 1st Bn. the Buffs); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (3165 Pte., E. Kent Regt.) slight edge bruising, very fine (2) £240-280

Frederick John Judges was born in Lynsted, Sittingbourne, Kent. A Labourer by occupation, he attested for service in the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) at Canterbury on 6 August 1890, aged 18 years, 2 months. With the 2nd Battalion he served at Home, August 1890-December 1893; he then served with the 1st Battalion in India, December 1893-April 1898. In December 1895 he attained the rank of Sergeant but was reduced to the ranks in January 1897 for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order’ and for ‘ill-treating a soldier’. He regained the rank of Lance-Corporal in November the same year. Lance-Corporal Judges was slightly wounded by gunshot to the right forearm in the action at Dabar, 16 September 1897. In the action the regiment gained one V.C. (Corporal James Smith) and three D.C.M’s. (V.C’s. were also won by two officers of the Royal Engineers for this action). Judges was transferred to the Army Reserve on 20 April 1898. He was recalled to Active Service on 4 December 1899 and served in South Africa, December 1899-September 1900. Returning home, he was once again transferred to the Army Reserve on 6 April 1902 and was discharged on 5 August 1902. With copied service papers and other research.