A Queen's South Africa Medal To The Royal West Surrey Regiment; Imprisoned

3 Clasps - NATAL, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL (3508 Pte C.W. HURST, RL. W. SURREY REGt). Naming is officially impressed in block capitals. Contact marks, bruised, cleaned, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records and Medal Rolls (for the India Medal 1895-1902 and the Queen's South Africa Medal) from the National Archives.

Footnote: Private Charles William Hurst, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England in 1872. He signed his Attestation Paper with the Royal West Surrey Regiment on April 28, 1891 at Guildford, at the age of 18 years and 10 months, stating his trade as that of Gardener. At the end of the year, he was sent with the regiment for service in Malta on December 24, 1891, where he would serve until January 16, 1895. While in Malta, Hurst ran afoul of the authorities, as he was tried by the Civil Power on July 17, 1894 and convicted of Felony (theft). He was sentenced to six months imprisonment and forfeited his 1st Good Conduct pay which he had previously been awarded in April 1893. A portion of his sentence was remitted under the authority of H.E., the Commander-in-Chief Malta, with Hurst returning to duty on November 17, 1894. Following his tenure in Malta, he was sent to India on January 17, 1895, where he would serve for another four years, until April 15, 1999. While in India, he had his 1st Good Conduct pay restored on May 17, 1895 and was awarded his 2nd Good Conduct pay two years later, on May 17, 1897. For his India service, he was awarded the India Medal with two clasps (Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-98), the medal having been lost to time. Upon his return to England, he was discharged for active service but was recalled by the Army for service in South Africa during the Boer War on October 7, 1899. He is credited with having served in South Africa from October 20, 1899 to August 5, 1902 and for his service and was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps (Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal), as presented here. Upon the conclusion of hostilities, he returned to England and was discharged from active service on April 19, 1903.