A good Bandmaster’s Boer War Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, Army Long Service and Good Conduct and annuity Meritorious Service Medal group awarded to Bandmaster J.W. Monk, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, who having enlisted in 1880 and having served at home as part of the Royal Artillery Band, would be appointed Bandmaster of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment on 1st March 1895. He would subsequently travel to South Africa where he would be present during the Boer War participating in operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. He would be awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in Army Order 68 of 1903, and having been discharged on1 5th August 1909, would later receive his annuity Meritorious Service Medal in Army Order 227 of 1941.
Group of 4: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 3 Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal; (4726 BAND MR: J. MONK. WELSH REGT.) King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902; (4726 BANDMASTER J. MONK. WELSH REGT) Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EVII; (4726 BANDMASTER J.W. MONK. WELSH REGT) Army Meritorious Service Medal, GVIR 1st type bust; (BANDMASTER J.W. MONK. WELSH R.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Along with reproduction image of Monk in uniform
John William Monk was born at Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1865 and giving his trade as a Musician attested on 2nd October 1880, aged just 15 years. His boy service saw him being educated at the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea, and he would be appointed a Bandsman in the Royal Artillery Band at Woolwich with effect from 1st July 1882, and became a Bombardier on 4th February 1887.. He would reengage to complete 21 years service at Kneller Hall on 8th September 1892, and would be promoted Sergeant with effect from 28th February 1896.
Whilst at Kneller Hall he continued to play the Cornet and study for a Bandmastership which he attained, and was subsequently appointed Bandmaster of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment with effect from 1st March 1895. He would subsequently travel to South Africa with the battalion where he would take part in the Boer War, being present during operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, before extending his service for a further years on 24th January 1902. He would receive his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by Army Order 68 of 1903, before he would return home from South Africa on 8th August 1904, and finally would once more extend his service for a further five years on 2nd October 1906. He would continue to serve until 15th August 1909 when he would be discharged, having exhibited exemplary conduct and not committing a single offence in his service. After his discharge he would live in Pembroke.
Monk would go on to receive his annuity Meritorious Service Medal in Army order 227 of 1941, and later passed away on 22nd June 1954, aged 88 years at the St. Mary’s Hospital, Portsmouth having been living at ‘Renmore’ Mengham Avenue, South Hayling, Havant.
