Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, 2 bars, Transvaal, South Africa 1902, 3190 Private C. Duckett, Lincolnshire Regiment. Served on the Nile at the Battles of Atbara and Khartoum.
Officially impressed: “3190 Pte C. Duckett. Lincoln: Regt”
Confirmed on the medal roll, recording both clasps earned as “Pte C. Duckett.”
His actual name, according to his service papers was William Thomas Duckett.
Enlisted in the Lincolns on 28th July 1892 at Lincoln, an 18 year old Shoemaker born in Fakenham, Norfolk.
He signed on being a serving member already of the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment (Militia).
Saw the following service:
Home, 25th July 1892 – 30th Jany 1895
Malta, 11th Febry 1895 – 3rd Feb 1897
Egypt, 4th February 1897 – 17th Oct 1898
India, 18th Oct 1898 -16th February 1902
South Africa, 17t February 1902 – 14th September 1902.
Home, 15th September 1902 – 24th July 1902.
Campaigns fought: Nile Expedition 1898, Battles of Atbara, 8th April 1892, Khartoum aka Omdurman, 2nd Sept 1898.
Medals earned: Sudan Medal (Queen’s) Egyptian Sudan Medal (Khedive’s) and clasps for Atbara and Khartoum.
S. African and clasps.
Served as 18671 with the Norfolks and later Labour Corps in WW1, even though he was already 40 years old when signing on.
During World War 1, he returned to service, signing on at Norwich on 29th Jan 1915.
At the time he had just turned 40 years old, with 16 years of service to his name in the Lincolns.
He initially joined the Norfolk Regiment, joining 3rd Bn on 12th April 1915, then 1st on 1st March 1916.
He later joined the Labour Corps, from 30th November 1917.
He had a couple amusing entries in the defaulters book as a young soldier:
1892, Aldershot, Not scrubbing the tables when ordered to do so, 7 days confinement.
2nd Jan 1893, Aldershot, 1. Not complying with an order, 2. making an improper reply to a N.C. officer, 14 days confinement.
1st Feb 1893, 1. Absent from 8.45 am Parade, 2. Quitting his section without permission, 5 days confinement.
20th April 1893, Refusing to empty the coal bin when ordered to do so, 96 days imprisonment hard labour
25th April 1894, Overstaying his pass from 12 midnight until 12 55 am, 5 days confinement.
28th Feb 1894, 1. Hesitating to get out of bed when ordered to do so, 2. Having made use of unduly familiar language to a N.C. Officer, 7 days confined
6th March 1894, Not cleaning the guard room coffee pot and kettle when ordered to do so, admonished.
19th June 1894, Talking in the Ranks, 3 days confinement.
