| Surname: | Priest |
| Initials: | T |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 439 |
| Notes: | MFP. 9/5/87 enlisted in the Derbyshire Regiment, born Clay Cross , Derbyshire, occupation Collier, address: Victoria Street, Clay Cross. 21/5/08 discharged at Aldershot time expired. 21 years, age 40, conduct exemplary. Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. Johm Priest. Extract from the Derbyshire Courier, 20/1/1900. Letter From Clay Cross Man. The following letter from No. 439, Cpl T Priest, Military Foot Police has been received by his Mother at Clay Cross. "The month of January here is midsummer and everything looks nice and green at present. I am pleased to say we have no Lions about here; Although I saw where one soldier had died through being mauled by one. Snakes are plentiful. We are seeing some awful sights, an Officer and two Sergeants died from their wounds, and there a a good many with only one leg and one arm. Six Boer prisoners (wounded) are with us. I have no fancy of being sewn in a blanket and thrown into a hole." In another letter he says; Her at Wynberg Hospital we have about 1000 wounded, and some awful sights, worse than any coal mining disaster. We have not been called upon to take part in any engagement at present. We are in a very rummy state out here and I don't know how long it will last, but when you get this letter there will be quite a few changes out here. We have to sleep every night with our revolvers under our heads. I shall expect seeing George and William Henry out in South Africa if we do not get on any better than we have been doing. no doubt you will have heard before this that we had to break up the little home, through me coming out here. I thought it was best to do as I may have to stop here after the war is over. There appears to be many different classes of people out here, in fact most of the are black, Zulu, Indian etc. I should not care much to be kept out here. Hucknall Morning Star and Advertiser 9 January 1903. CLAY CROSS CYCLING CORPS ANNUAL DINNER. The health of Lieut. E Oxley and Serg. Instructor Parkin and the "Cyclist Corps," Sergeant Fletcher and Capt Oxley was drunk with musical honours, and a second impromptu toast was that of "Corporal Priest," who had just returned from South Africa after lengthy service in the Military Foot Police. A musical programme enlivened the evening. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Queen's South Africa Medal (London Gazette: QSA Medal Roll WO 100/234 Page: 200 July 5, 1901) |
| Citation: | Clasp: Cape Colony. |
| Decoration: | King's South Africa Medal (London Gazette: WO 100/355 Page: 306 Dec. 23, 1902) |
| Citation: | Clasps: South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. Cpl. |