Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major J. W. Aldridge, Welsh Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Capt. J. W. Aldridge, Welsh Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Major J. W. Aldridge, Welsh Rgt.), generally very fine (2) £280-320

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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John Wheeler Aldridge was appointed Lieutenant in the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Somersetshire Light Infantry in July 1886 but transferred to the Plymouth Division, Submarine Miners, Royal Engineers (Militia) in early 1890. He next removed to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Welsh Regiment in March 1893, in which capacity he was advanced to Captain in the following year.

He subsequently proceeded to South Africa with the 3rd Battalion in February 1900, where he commanded convoy escorts and, as a Railway Staff Officer at Vryburg, served in armoured trains. He also served as Commandant at Kraaipan and, from December 1901, as an Assistant Press Censor in Kimberley, and was granted the honorary rank of Major in February 1902 (Queen’s Medal & 3 clasps; King’s Medal & 2 clasps).

Having resigned his commission in July 1907, Aldridge was recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, when he joined the 8th (Service) Battalion, Welsh Regiment. A posting at the Service Battalions Depot having ensued, he transferred to the Labour Corps in the course of 1917 and resigned his commission in May 1918; sold with copied research.