Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, 2073 Private William Saunders Medlock, Cape Police District Police District 1.
Officially impressed: “2073 Pte. W.S. Medlock. Cape Police P.D. I”
Confirmed on the medal roll, issued on 13th Feb 1908 to his family pub, the Sussex Arms in Portslade by Sea.
Also issued a KSA for 1901 and 1902.
Very few men named “Medlock” took part in the Boer War, only about 4 or so, William being the only “Colonial”.
William Saunders Medlock, was born on 18th July 1880 in Brighton, Sussex.
He grew up in a Pub, his family having run the local “The Cricketers” Pub in Broadwater, Worthing, Sussex.
During the Boer War, this young man was about 19 years old at the time, he served with the Cape Police from 20th May 1900 until 31st May 1902, before signing on for a 5 year contract until 8th May 1907.
Following the Boer War, he continued on in the Cape Police, being discharged on 8th May 1907, returning home he married his wife Dinah in late 1907 and settled back in Brighton.
In the 1911 Census he was running the Pub “The Old Hoss” in Brighton.
During World War 1, he signed up with the Royal Army Service Corps, having enlisted on 24th June 1916, he was discharged on 10th December 1917 due to “Sickness 392 XVI” and got issued his Silver War Badge.
He held the service number DM2/195659, this prefix used for Driver in Motor Transport.
Interestingly this seems to have sparked an interest in Engines, as by 1921 he left behind the Pub Business to become a Motor Engineer, seemingly making use of his war time experience/education.
In 1921 he was living in Portslade by Sea still with his wife and 2 Children, working as a “Motor Mechanic” for the Diaphram and Gel Leather Works on Franklin Road.
He would continue in this line of work the remainder of his life, still living in his native Portslade by Sea in 1939 working as an “Engineer employed at Leather Factory etc.”
He died during the war aged 64 in late 1944.
