SERGEANT (LATER WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 2) E.J. MOTH, 2ND BATTALION NORFOLK REGIMENT AND NORFOLK COMPANY, 7TH MOUNTED INFANTRY (LATER ARMY GYMNASTIC STAFF). Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg (officially

SERGEANT (LATER WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 2) E.J. MOTH, 2ND BATTALION NORFOLK REGIMENT AND NORFOLK COMPANY, 7TH MOUNTED INFANTRY (LATER ARMY GYMNASTIC STAFF). Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg (officially impressed: 3382 Sgt. E. J. MOTH, NORFOLK REGt.). Good Very Fine.

Sergeant Moth was invalided from South Africa suffering from the effects of enteric fever in June 1900.

Medal accompanied by 25 pages of photocopied service papers and photocopied medal rolls for QSA and KSA (the QSA roll being a complete roll of the 100 officers and men of the Norfolk Regiment who saw service with the Norfolk Company, 7th Mounted Infantry).

Edgar James Moth was born in Southsea, Portsmouth. A baker by occupation, he attested for the Norfolk Regiment on 14 November 1892, aged 18 years, 9 months. Moth gained his Mounted Infantry Certificate in November 1897 and attained the rank of Sergeant in April 1899. His overseas service was restricted to South Africa, where he served from January – June 1900. Moth was invalided to England in June 1900 suffering from the effects of enteric fever (note: service papers give date invalided from South Africa as 25th June, but medal roll give 22nd June). Moth was transferred as a Sergeant Instructor to the Army Gymnastic Staff in February 1903. Awarded the Army L.S.& G.C. with £5 gratuity in 1911, and was discharged from the Gymnastic Staff on completion of his second period of engagement on 13 November 1913. With the outbreak of the Great War, the then 41 year old Moth re-enlisted into the Northamptonshire Regiment on 12 /5/1915. On re-enlistment Moth was initially given the rank of Private, but immediately promoted the same day, 12/5/1915, to Company Sergeant Major Instructor with the Army Gymnastic Service. Moth was promoted Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor, 6/6/1916, and Warrant Officer Class II, 22/6/1918.

Moth served in France, September 1917 to June 1918 (also entitled British War and Victory Medals) and transferred to the Reserve on 13/5/1919 on demobilisation.

Only 4 officers and 96 other ranks of the Norfolk Regiment saw service with the Norfolk Company, 7th Mounted Infantry, at Paardeberg. They formed part of the Mounted Infantry Brigade under the command of Colonel Hannay, which was much praised for the work that they did in surrounding Cronje and his forces at Paardeberg. Only 4 Sergeants from the Norfolk Regiment saw service with the Norfolk Company, 7th Mounted Infantry (a Colour Sergeant, two Sergeants, including Moth, and a Lance Sergeant).

Moth was hospitalised on 16/3/1900 at Paardeberg, within three weeks of the action fought there on 17th – 26th February 1900. He probably caught enteric fever as a result of drinking water from the river at Paardeberg, which was badly polluted by the decaying bodies of horses killed during the battle. Moth was lucky to survive, more soldiers dying during the Boer War as a result of enteric fever and disease than fell victim to Boer bullets.

Captain Charles Ross, Norfolk Regiment, who commanded the Norfolk Company, 7th Mounted Infantry, was awarded the DSO for services with the Norfolk Company in South Africa