A Fine & Rare "Cavalry" Queen's South Africa & King's South Africa Group of Five.
BELFAST
LAING'S NEK
ORANGE FREE STATE
DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH
TALANA
(with Boer War 'gallantry' M.I.D. 1900)
War & Victory pair,
Long Service Good Conduct Medal (SQ,S.MJR.) & Plaque group.
To:
4796, Pte, later 2/Lt W.H.STORK.
18th HUSSARS & 3rd Dragoon Guards.

Died of Wounds 11th January 1918.

[BIOGRAPHY]
William Henry Stork was born in Colchester, Essex in 1878. He is shown on his attestation papers as joining the regular army at Bradford, Yorkshire on 26th July 1898. He was previously employed as a civilian groom and at the time of his regular enlistment was serving as 5821 Pte W.H. STORK with 3rd West Riding Regt. During the Boer War he was based at Ladysmith with a period in South Africa from 13th May 1899 to 31st October 1902.
He was mentioned in despatches and promoted to corporal on 28th June 1901 for "Conspicuous Gallantry with Colonel Campbell's force on 1st April 1901" He was apparently a forward outrider ahead of his main platoon when he saw a Boer ambush about to take place. He galloped back to the main squad under heavy fire to warn his unit commander of the potential attack.

He returned to the UK on S.S. ENGLISHMAN







In 1911 he won the prestigious and LARGE Army Rifle Association silver medal.

Just prior to the start of WW1 on 3rd August 1913 he completed his first engagement with 18th Hussars as Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant. 4796. He married 'Annie Kellaway' on 4th December 1906 in Newcastle on Tyne. A step son, William Edwin Allen' was part of the new family. He entered France with 18th Hussars at Le Havre on 25th June 1916 and was commissioned into the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 17th April 1917. He was seriously wounded ( Multiple Gun Shot Wounds ) on 9th January 1918, admitted to No.5 C.C.S and died there of his wounds two days later on 11th January 1918.

There is a very sad letter copy in the research file from Mrs Annie Stork written on 2nd February 1918 asking for news of 2/Lt Stork owing to his being 'out of touch for 15 weeks" . An even sadder official letter was sent her on 4th February announcing his death on 11th January.

William Henry Stork is remembered with honour at Tincourt-Boucly New British Cemetery, East of PERONNE, France.

His headstone inscription reads"PEACE PERFECT PEACE"


A superb and well documented group with a rare and seldom seen battle clasp combination to the QSA which also has unusually clear shadow dates. All medals are EF+ on their original ribbons.







The group comes with full copy service papers and a large file of other papers & research.
£2995 with Part Exchanges Very Welcome.