Queens South Africa Medal clasps Relief of Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Transvaal, Orange Free State & Cape Colony named 5518 CORL W RUSHFORD 1 BORD REGT, Kings South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 named 5518 CORPL W RUSHFORD BORD REGT, British War & Victory Medals named 5518 WO CL2 W V RUSHFORD BORD R. Please note the fist two clasp are not attached to medal as issued later.
Walter Vasey Rushford born 1876 in Bishops Auckland, Durham and enlisted into the Border Regt numbered 5518 aged 19 years old on 25th Aug 1897 as a baker. He previously had service with the 4th Battalion Border Regt. After training he was sent to Malta in Nov 1897 till Sept 1899 when they were sent back to the UK till Dec 1899 when he left for South Africa. His medals and clasps are all confirmed on the rolls. Left South Africa Sept 1902 to UK till Aug 1906. Sent to Gibraltar till Oct 1908, East Indies till Nov 1914 when sent back to the UK as WW1 broken out. He stayed in the UK training the soldiers as he was a Colour Sgt Major. He landed in France himself on 26th Feb 1916 with the 7th (Westmorland & Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion. On 23rd Apr 1917 tried by Court Martial for giving the soldiers some rum without authority so being reduced to Sgt which is were he lost his LS&GC chances.
On 10th Oct 1917 noted he sprained his ankle as a CSM slipping on the duckboards in the trenches. He stayed in France till April 1919.
