Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal clasps) named 2775 Pte H. Bridges, 1st L.N.Lanc: Regt and King's South Africa 1901-02, (South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902) named 2775 Pte H. Bridges. L.N.Lanc: Regt

Harry Bridges was born at Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in June 1865. Apprenticed to the Cheltenham Gasworks in his youth he attested for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Bristol on 18 June 1889. Having seen home service for the better part of a year Bridges was posted to India with 1st Battalion on 21 February 1890. He was to serve there for the next six years before transferring to Ceylon for another year, finally returning home on 12 January 1897.

Posted to the Army Reserve on 31 January 1897 Bridges re-joined the colours on 10 April 1898. He was posted to South Africa on 5 October 1899, presumably as part of a draft of reinforcements for the 1st Battalion already serving in Natal. Bridges conduct during the war appears not to have impressed his superiors and he was imprisoned for a month between April-May 1900 as a result of 'conduct to the prejudice of Good order'. Despite this he remained in South Africa until 10 June 1902. He was discharged on 17 June after returning to Britain. Bridges listed his mother's home, Belle House, Leckenham as his intended residence. He appears to have moved to Pontypridd, Wales where he worked in the mining industry, he died there in the spring of 1938.

Comes with a large file of copied research including census data and service papers.