PRIVATE W.H. PEPPER, 1ST AND 3RD BATTALIONS THE PRINCE OF WALES'S OWN (WEST YORKSHIRE) REGIMENT AND 1ST BATTALION THE PRINCE OF WALES VOLUNTEERS (SOUTH LANCASHIRE) REGIMENT. Two: India General Service Medal 1908-1935, Edward VII, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (officially engraved in running script: 6196 Pte. W. Pepper 1st W.Y. Regt.) India General Service Medal 1908-1935, George V, 1 clasp, Afghanistan NWF 1919 (officially impressed: 30037 PTE. W.H. PEPPER. 1 P.W. VOLS.). Almost Extremely Fine.
Group accompanied by copied IGS Medal Roll extracts (2, confirming medals and clasps) and WW1 Medal Index card and medal roll extracts, which confirm that Private William Henry Pepper also saw service during WW1, initially as 6196 Private with the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and subsequently as 30037 Private with the 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. Medal Index card confirms entitlement to 1914 Star and bar trio and medal roll confirms christian names as William Henry.
There is a William Henry Pepper who twice enlisted into the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment prior to the outbreak of WW1, on both occasions during the Boer War, on 26/6/1900 and 23/3/1901, who is possibly the recipient of these medals. He first enlisted at Doncaster on 26/6/1900, stating that he was then 18 years and 1 month old, was born in the parish of Hexthorpe, Doncaster, and gave his trade as that of "bottler". Pepper was discharged on 22/8/1900 "having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment". Pepper enlisted into the 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment for a second time at Pontefract on 23/3/1901, giving his age on enlistment as 18 years and 3 months old. At the second time of enlistment, Pepper stated that he had been born in Humberston, Leicester, was then living in Hexthorpe, Doncaster and employed by Mr Liddons of Doncaster as a greaser (this indicates that, when he enlisted in 1900, he was only 17 years and 5 months old). Service papers for second enlistment record Pepper as transferring to a "line" battalion (presumably the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment) on 14/10/01. At both Boer War period enlistments Pepper gave his next of kin as his father, Phillip Craven Pepper of 43 Abbey Street, Hexthorpe, Doncaster. Service papers for both enlistments accompany group.
The 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment was stationed at Lichfield when WW1 broke out on 4/8/1914. The battalion subsequently formed part of 18th Brigade, 6th Division, and landed in France as a unit at St Nazaire on 10/9/1914. At the end of the war, on 11/11/1918, the battalion was still serving with 18th Brigade, 6th Division, in France, at Fresnoy, north-east of St Quentin.
The 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment was stationed at Quetta in India when war broke out on 4/8/1914 and remained in India throughout the war.
Medal lndex card entries confirm service during WW1 initially with the West Yorkshire Regiment and subsequently with the South Lancashire Regiment, Pepper presumably transferring from the West Yorkshires to the South Lancashires shortly before or immediately after the cessation of hostilities on 11/11/1918
