Description
Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, 5653 Ernest Albert Bastow, 2nd Bn Dorset Regiment.
QSA officially engraved: “5653 Pte E.A. Bastow. 2/Dorset. Regt.”
KSA officially impressed: “5653 Pte E.A. Bastow Dorset: Regt.”
Contact wear consistent with his long career after the Boer War, naming all there and readable some typical contacting from knocking together on uniform.
Confirmed on the medal roll. With copy service papers.
Born in Tooting, South London circa 1877.
He was a 19 year old Greengrocers Assistant when he enlisted in London on 19th January 1898.
He was formerly a member of his local Militia, the 2nd Surrey Regiment, before purchasing his way out.
Ernest saw the following service over 16 years:
Home, 19th Jan 1898 – 4th Oct 1898
Malta, 5th Oct 1898 – 2nd Feb 1899
Home, 3rd Feb 1899 – 23rd Nov 1899
South Africa, 24th Nov 1899 – 24th April 1902
India, 25th April 1902 – 8th December 1906
Home, 9th Dec 1906 – 24th Feb 1914.
According to the Regimental Defaulters Book he had a rocky start to his career.
At Landport in South Africa on 8th November 19011 he was “When on Sentry duty sitting down in a shelter which did not face his front whilst having his rifle outside.” His CO sentenced him to 168 hours imprisonment with hard labour from 9th Nov to 16th Nov.
At Gosport on 20th November 1907 he was “Drunk in Clarence Road about 11.15 pm” leading to being severely reprimanded by Lt Col Harris.
Also on 8th August 1910: “Wilfully absenting himself from duty when duly warned.”
He had a few other instance of poor behaviour but managed to improve himself enough to by the time of his discharge earn a “Certificate of Sobriety and Trustworthiness” which is included in his papers.
“I believe that Ernest Albert Bastow is thoroughly trustworthy and to the best of my belief has never been under the influence of liquor during the last 3 years of his army service which expired on 24th Feb 1914. Written at Dorchester, 23rd Jan 1914.”
In his later years in the Army he rose up the ranks, becoming a Corporal in 1907 and left as a Lance Sergeant during 1914.
On discharge he was said to have been “Very Good” “Trustworthy, Very Temperate in his habits, energetic and obliging.”
Ernest died in January 1915 in Poole, Dorset aged 37.
