THE QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL TO PRIVATE W. PECK, 13TH HUSSARS (LATE NORFOLK REGIMENT AND 20TH HUSSARS) WHO ALSO SAW SERVICE DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR WITH THE ARMY VETERINARY CORPS. Queen's South Africa Medal, 1 clasp, Natal (officially named, engraved "cavalry" style in upper and lower case sloping serifed letters: 4851. Pte. W. PECK. 13/Hrs.). Ghost dates visible on reverse, attractively toned, Extremely Fine and virtually as struck, and scarce to 13th Hussars with Natal clasp only.
Note incorrect initial on medal (see below).
Medal accompanied by biographical details, extracts 1871 and 1911 census returns, 12 pages copied service papers (10 pages Boer War and 2 Pages WW1), QSA Medal roll extract, confirming medal and single clasp Natal, copied WW1 Medal Index card and extract Silver War Badge roll.
On the QSA roll Peck's initial was initially inscribed as "W", which explains why his QSA has the wrong initial, but this error was later corrected and the correct initials "E.A." substituted (the correction presumably taking place after Peck's medal had been named).
Edward Arthur Peck was born in 1870 in New Buckenham, Norfolk, the son of Simon and Elizabeth Peck. He is recorded in the 1871 census as a 4 month old baby living in New Buckenham with his parents, a brother and two daughters.
Peck originally enlisted into the Norfolk Regiment at Norwich on 22/4/1890 using the name Arthur E. Peck (subsequently corrected in service papers to Edward Arthur Peck). Peck transferred to the 20th Hussars on 20/6/1890 and to the Army Reserve on 7/11/1897, but was recalled for service following the outbreak of the Boer War and posted to the 13th Hussars with the rank of Private on 18/1/1900. Peck was promoted Corporal, 26/2/1902 and discharged on 9/7/1902 on termination of his first period of engagment.
Peck is recorded in the 1911 census as a 39 year old married farm labourer living in Banham, Norfolk, with his 32 year old wife, a son and a daugher.
Peck re-enlisted during WW1, into the Army Veterinary Corps, at Norwich, on 31/06/1916. He was invalided from France on 15/4/1918 and eventually discharged as a result of sickness on 14/9/1918.For his services during WW1 Peck was awarded the British War and Victory Medals and the Silver Wound Badge no. B16721.
Peck married, 1903, and had two children born prior to WW1, a daughter in 1904 and a son in 1905.
