The very good Boer War Cape Colony, Orange Free State operations and actions during the Relief of Ladysmith and at Tugela Heights, Laing’s Nek and Belfast, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal group awarded to Driver, later Acting Bombardier F.J. Paul, A Battery, later G Battery, Royal Horse Artillery who saw service in South Africa during the Boer War where he would take part in the operations in Cape Colony and Orange Free State as well as during the Relief of Ladysmith and in the actions at Tugela Heights, Laing’s Nek and Belfast. He would be awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity in 1909 and would be discharged at Woolwich in 1912 after 21 years engagement.
Group of 3: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 6 Clasps: Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony; (83886 DR: J. PAUL. A.B. R.H.A.) King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (83886 DVR. F. PAUL. G BTY. R.H.A.) Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EVII, (83886 A/BMBR: F.J. PAUL. R.H.A.) Mounted loose for display.
Condition: minor contact wear throughout, Very Fine
Frederick James Paul was born at Stoke Damerel, Devonport during 1873. He would enlist at Woolwich in 1891 aged 18 years and 9 months, giving his trade as a Baker and signing up for 7 years service with the colours and 5 with the reserve.
He attested at the Royal Artillery Depot on 27th February 1891 and transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery B depot on the 15th October the same year, a year later on 12th November 1892 he was posted to ‘H’ Battery as a driver the next day, spending the next 7 years there. He would extend his service to complete 12 years with the colours on 15th July 1898, and later on 17th December 1898 would injured his right ankle whilst on duty, and would then suffer a contusion to his left knee whilst on duty on 6th March 1899, before going direct to South Africa to take part in the Boer War arriving there on 8th January 1900. He would transfer to ‘A’ Battery with whom he saw action at Vaal Krantz from 5th to 7th February 1900, at the action at Tugela Heights and during the Relief of Ladysmith, the unit would then give excellent service at Allemann’s Nek, Bergendal and Belfast as ell in the minor actions that took place in Orange Free State. In the Paardeberg and Lyndenburg District ‘A’ battery was constantly fighting and suffered many losses.
Frederick would travel back to India on 15th August 1902 where he was to stay for the next eighteen months. He broke his collar bone whilst on duty there on 24th January 1903. He would be posted to ‘A’ depot on 26th February 1904 he returned to the UK and was appointed an Acting Bombardier on 28th October 1904. He would go on to marry Florence Mary Sharpe oat St. John’s Church Plumstead on 10th May 1907. Her father being employed by the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich as a bookkeeper.
In September 1907 he ceased to draw pay for his appointment whilst employed in the garrison military police. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity in 1909. The 1911 census showing them living at 144 Samuel Street, Woolwich and Florence shown as being born in Dublin.
Paul was discharged on 26th February 1912 at Woolwich at the end of his 21 year engagement, he was in possession of four good conduct badges and was granted a pension of 13d per day for life, his character being given as exemplary.
