Description
St John’s Ambulance Medal for the Boer War, 646 Private H. Kitching, Bradford Corps.
Officially engraved: “646 Pte H. Kitching Bradford Corps.”
For his volunteer service with St John’s Ambulance Corps in South Africa he earned this scarce bronze medal and the matching Queen’s South Africa, with clasp Cape Colony, being stationed at the 11th General Hospital St John’s as an Orderley.
A Harry Kitching, born 21st Jan 1873 in Bradford, lived most of his life in the town of Bradford, shown there on the 1881, 1891, 1901,1911, 1921, and 1939 Censuses, all living in Bradford.
He looks to be the only matching man who was a local from Bradford. Starting off in Bradford as a young man he started off as a teenager as a Mechanics Apprentice, becoming a Mechanical Engineer.
During 1921 he was shown as a “Mechanic with Bag Makers” working for S & H Illingworth Ltd, Bag Makers, at Quebec Street Bradford.
Notably during this year, his workplace burned down, the factory being entirely destroyed https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/S._and_H._Illingworth
He died in his home town of Bradford during 1954, the local Bradford Observer writing on 16th Nov 1954: “KITCHING – November 13th, at the Duke of York Home, Bradford, Harry (81) the dearly loved father of John and Violet…”
