Description
Queen’s Sudan Medal 1899, Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, 1935 King George V Jubilee Medal, 1937 King George VI Coronation Medal, Army Long Service and Good Conduct, GV, Army Meritorious Service Medal, WW2 Defence Medal, Khedive’ Sudan, bar Khartoum.
All medals correctly named as issued.
Polishing and general wear consistent with about 50 years service, and had spent 20 years as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London from 1924-1944.
Sudan officially engraved: “5318 Pte H. Sumner 2/Lanc Fus.”
QSA officially impressed: “5318 Cpl H. Sumner Lanc: Fus:”
KSA officially impressed: “5318 Serjt H. Sumner Lanc: Fus:”
Army LSGC: Officially impressed: “24539 C.S. Mjr: Instr: H. Sumner. R.E.”
Army MSM officially impressed: “24539 W.O. Cl. 2. H. Sumner. R.E.”
With copy service papers.
Medals show a good advancement through the ranks, leaving Sudan a Private, becoming a Corporal on his QSA then Sergeant on his KSA.
Note this is every medal he was issued for this service, he served at home during World War 1 training the next generation as Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor at the Army Signal School in Aldershot.
During World War 2 he was Lieutenant and Quartermaster with the Tower of London Air Raid Precautions.
The Aldershot News, 15th July 1966, published the following obituary following his death at the age of 88:
“Mr H.H. Sumner
Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London for 20 years, Mr Henry Herbert Sumner of School House, Manor Road, Ash, died at Farnham Hospital on Saturday of last week, aged 88.
Mr Sumner served 21 years in the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Engineers and fought in the Boer War. He was a member of Aldershot Park and Tongham bowling clubs. The funeral took place at the Town Cemetery on Thursdau. He is survived by 1 Son and 3 Daughters.”
Henry Herbert Sumner was born on 23rd March 1878 in Preston, Lancashire.
In the 1939 Census he lived in the Tower of London, it notes that he lived there with his 2 Daughters Irene Margaret, and Dora Sylvia M.
He is noted as “Yeoman Warder” “24539 W.O. 1. R.E. (Signals), Lieut Quartermaster Gen List, Tower A.R.P.”
His wife worked as “Manageress, Catering Department”
