DRUMMER (LATER SERGEANT) DAVID ATKINS, NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT (LATER KING’S AFRICAN RIFLES). Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, type 3, 3 clasps,

DRUMMER (LATER SERGEANT) DAVID ATKINS, NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT (LATER KING’S AFRICAN RIFLES). Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, type 3, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (officially impressed: 5026 DMR: T. ATKINS. N. STAFF: REGT.). Old dark tone, scattered light contact marks and edge bruising from other medals, otherwise Good Very Fine.

Note: the initial on Drummer Atkins’s QSA is incorrect. This is no doubt due to the fact that the letter T is the initial entered on both the QSA and KSA Medal rolls for him. However, WW1 Medal Index Card and Service Papers both confirm correct christian name as David (QSA and KSA Rolls, M.I.C. and service papers all have same matching service number, 5026). QSA Medal roll confirms medal and clasps and KSA roll confirms also entitled medal and 2 clasps.

In addition to QSA and KSA Medal rolls and WW1 M.I.C., group also accompanied by 18 pages of photocopied service papers.

David Atkins enlisted into the North Staffordshire Regiment on 28/7/1896. At time of enlistment he was 14 years and 10 months old. Service papers state that his trade at time of enlistment was “musician”, but I suspect that this trade was one given to him by the recruiting officer, Atkins being posted on attestation to the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment as a Boy Drummer. Service papers indicate that David Atkins was an orphan, deserted by his parents at birth and initially raised in a Foundling Hospital. As a result, at the time of enlistment he stated that he did not know where he was born, parish, town or county. At time of enlistment Atkins stood some 4ft 7.5 inches tall and weighed just 6 stones 1 pounds (73 pounds). Service papers confirm service during the Boer War as a Drummer. Atkins was promoted unpaid Lance-Corporal, 1/5/1903, Lance-Corporal, 1/4/1904, Corporal, 7/12/1906, Lance-Sergeant, 4/10/1911, and Sergeant, 24/4/1912. He was discharged following the termination of his second period of engagement on 28/3/1919.

In addition to peace-time service, service papers confirm active service in South Africa from 14/1/1900 to 8/10/1902 with the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, with the expeditionary force in France, 10/9/1914 to 24/9/1916, with the 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment (10/9/1914 would be his date of embarkation for France, the 1st North Staffordshires landing at St Nazaire two days later, on 12/9/1914), and in East Africa attached to the King’s African Rifles from 24/5/1917 to 28/1/1919.

Atkins was wounded in action on at least three occasions during his military career, the first occasion being on 26/9/1914 (shrapnel wound to arm), again on 24/8/1918 (slightly wounded), and on 6/9/1918 (slightly wounded, returned to duty). The final two occasions on which Atkins was wounded occurred while he was attached Kings African Rifles in East Africa, during the closing stages of that campaign. This was perhaps the toughest campaign fought during WW1, men on both sides fighting in the most difficult conditions, beset by climate, sickness and disease, and on the British side often on the verge of starvation. Facing them was a mixed force of German and native troops led by Major-General Von Lettow, who commanded Germanys only undefeated army during WW1 and who was still leading the opposing British forces a merry dance through East Africa when the Armistice came into force on 11/11/1918. Medal accompanied by photocopied extracts from Malcolm Pages History of the Kings African Rifles, giving details of the period during which Atkins was wounded. During August and September 1918, when Atkins was twice wounded, British forces in East Africa initially believed they had managed to bag Von Lettow, surrounding his forces with a number of mobile columns. Von Lettow, as usual, managed to break through the surrounding columns by splitting his force into several smaller columns, each of which fought their way to safety.

As regards next of kin, service papers state that Atkins had no relatives.

Also entitled 1914 Star and bar trio.