Description
Royal West Kent Regiment, Punjab Frontier and Boer War group.
India General Service 1895-1902, clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, 4098 Pte. E. Littlefield 1st Bn. Ryl. W. Kent Regt.(official correction to initial); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, 4098 Pte. E. Littlefield. 2nd Rl. W. Kent Regt.; King’s South Africa 1901-02, clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, 4098 Pte. E. Littlefield. Rl. W. Kent Regt.
Edward Littlefield was born at Clapham, London,on 2nd August 1875.
He enlisted for the Royal West Kent Regiment in London on 11 January 1894. He served with the 1st Battalion in India, November 1896 to October 1899, then with the 2nd Battalion in Egypt until February 1900, He served at home to 25th November 1896, India to 21st October 1899, Egypt to 4th February 1900, South Africa to 11th September 1902 and home to 10th January 1906.
His papers and medal rolls confirm all three medals and clasps.
He was discharged on 10 January 1906.
Died in 1940, West Ashford, Kent.
Condition – Edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine
During the 1897–1898 campaign on the North-West Frontier, the 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) served as a key British line infantry unit attached to the Malakand Field Force.
Relief of Chakdara (July–August 1897): Serving under Brigadier-General Meiklejohn’s 1st Brigade, the battalion advanced to relieve the heavily besieged British garrisons at Malakand and Chakdara.
Battle of Landaki (17 August 1897): In the Swat Valley, the 1st Battalion led a bayonet charge against an estimated 5,000 entrenched Pashtun warriors at Landaki, clearing enemy strongpoints while suffering 4 killed and 29 wounded.
Mohmand & Swat Expeditions: The battalion spent subsequent months storming isolated mountain villages, securing high-altitude passes, and escorting supply columns across hostile Swat and Mohmand territories.
The 2nd Battalion, The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) deployed to South Africa in March 1900 as part of the 17th Infantry Brigade, 8th Division, commanded by Major-General Sir Leslie Rundle.
Battle of Biddulphsberg (29 May 1900): Operating in the eastern Orange Free State, the battalion saw severe fighting near Senekal, enduring heavy Boer rifle fire while navigating sweeping grass fires on the battlefield.
Brandwater Basin Campaign (July 1900): The Royal West Kents helped form the tight perimeter encirclement in the Drakensberg mountains that trapped General Marthinus Prinsloo’s force, resulting in the surrender of over 4,000 Boer fighters.
During the war’s counter-insurgency phase, the battalion participated in relentless column sweeps across the Orange River Colony, patrolling vast tracts of veldt to suppress commandos and protect vital supply lines.
Blockhouse Lines: The unit constructed, guarded, and maintained long networks of fortified tin-and-gravel blockhouses, effectively dividing the terrain to restrict enemy movement.
The remained in South Africa until late 1902.
