British – Victorian and WWI Medal Group – 5th Dragoon Guards – Defence of Ladysmith – West

Queen’s South Africa Medal, clasps ‘Defence of Ladysmith’, ‘Orange Free State’, ‘Transvaal’: 3718 Pte. A. West. 5th Dragoon Guards; King’s South Africa Medal, clasps ‘SA01’, ‘SA02’: 3719 Pte. A. E. West. 5th Drgn. Gds:; British War Medal: P-1194 L. Cpl. A. E. West. M.M.P.

Albert Edward West was born in Bromley, Kent. He attested to the 5th Dragoon Guards at London in March 1892. He served 12 years and 5 months with the regiment, including over 7 years in India and over 2 and a half years in South Africa. For his service during the Boer War he was awarded the QSA and KSA and was present at the Defence of Ladysmith. He was discharged to the Army Reserve in 1904. In May 1915 he rejoined the army for WWI service and attested to the Military Mounted Police and was appointed Lance Corporal. He served on the Western Front with the BEF from July 1915 until February 1919 at which time he was returned to England and discharged to ‘Class Z’ in March 1919.