THE BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY MEDAL 1890-97 TO PRIVATE T. WHITE, 2ND BATTALION YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT, WHO ALSO SAW SERVICE DURING THE BOER WAR. British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, Rhodesia 1896 reverse (officially named, engraved in plain block capitals: (2171) PTE. T. WHITE – 2/Y & LANCR. REGt.). Heavy edge bruises at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, probably from repeated contact with other medals, obscuring regimental number (as indicated), contact marks and abrasions, otherwise Fine to Good Fine, and with a length of original ribbon.
Medal accompanied by 5 pages copied service papers and copied extracts for the British South Africa Company Medal roll (2, original and published, confirming medal with Rhodesia 1896 reverse), along with copied extracts QSA and KSA Medal rolls, confirming White also saw service with the 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment during the Boer War, entitled QSA with 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, and King's South Africa Medal with 2 clasps.
157 British South Africa Company Medals to the York & Lancaster Regiment, one medal with Rhodesia 1896 reverse to the 1st Battalion, 155 medals with Rhodesia 1896 reverse to the 2nd Battlion and one medal with an additional Rhodesia 1896 clasp to Sergeant Webster, who had already received the medal with Matabeleland 1893 reverse.
Thomas White was born in Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire, circa 1869. He enlisted into the 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment on 28/1/1888, transferring to the 2nd Battalion on 28/5/1891. At the time of enlistment White was 19 years and 11 months old and gave his trade as groom. White neve rose above the rank of Private whilst serving and transferred to the Army Reserve on 9/11/1897. He was recalled to army service following the outbreak of the Boer War on 11/11/1899, and was eventually discharged from the army on the termination of his engagement on 27/8/1902. In addition to service at home, White saw service in South Africa, 28/5/1891 to 13/2/1897, India, from 14/2/1897 to 5/11/1897 and South Africa from 13/12/1899 to 26/8/1902.
