Description
Queen’s South Africa, 3 bars, CC, OFS, Trans, 5449 Private William James “Willie” Oswick, 2nd Dragoon Guards, aka the Queen’s Bays.
Officially impressed: “5449 Pte W.J. Oswick. 2nd Dragoon Gds”
Confirmed on the medal roll, being additionally entitled to the dated SA 1902 clasp, which was usually sent on loose later.
Medal polished.
This extremely unusual name make this the only Boer War Medal awarded to a man named “Oswick”, only 1 other Oswick can be found on any other medal roll for Afghanistan 1878.
William “Willie” James Oswick, 1882 – 1966.
William was born on 7th March 1882.
Following his army service he settled back in Norwich with his wife Ada Annie, and son Jack (Born 1910), where he found work as a Leather Checker (Norwich has a long standing tradition for Boots and Shoe making).
The 1882 Birth Records and 1911 census record him as “Willie”, although he was formally referred to as William, he seems to have used both names.
During World War 1, he signed up with his local Norfolk Yeomanry on 15th May 1915.
Having served in the Norfolk Yeomanry (7th Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment), he “was desirous of being transferred from the Norfolk Yeomanry at Warren Heath Camp to the Corps of Military Police at Aldershot.”
He signed up as 2245 (P7563 Royal Military Police), with the 3rd/1/ Norfolk Yeomanry, noting himself as a former member of the Dragoons, “time expired”.
he did not get deployed and served at Home from 11th May 1915 until 27th April 1920, earning no further medals.
In 1939, he was living with his wife Ada Annie Oswick, where he worked in Norwich as a Warehouseman for Boots and Shoe’s whilst also fulfilling his duty as an Air Raid Warden.
He died in Norwich during 1966.
