Victorian British Army Soldiers Small Book (Army Form B50) & Discharge Certificate - Walter Edwin Austing - Scots Guards

Two original pieces of military paperwork concerning the enlistment and discharge of a Scots Guards Musician comprising:

1) British Army Soldiers Small Book (Army Form B50) in good condition; and
2) Parchment Cerficiate of Discharge Army Form B.128) - some red ink to top edge of reverse has run and now illegible otherwise in good condition.

The British Army Soldiers Small Book (Army Form B50) was issued to either regular soldiers once attested and intended to be kept on the person of the individual and kept up to date during service by the commanding officer of the Squadron, Troop, Battery, or Company to which the man belonged. Printed by Gale & Polden Ltd for the HMSO and is the version dated 1901.

These were issued to Regimental No 4387, Guardsman Walter Edwin Austing, who was a Londoner and enlisted in the Scots Guards on 19th March 1902 aged 19. His trade on enlistment was given as Musician. He enlisted for twelve years with the Colours. His next-of-kin are given as his mother and three brothers. He bought himself out of the Scots Guards five years later, in 1908, then aged 25. He was with the Scots Guards Band and his trade was still given as Musician. This early exit was purchased by the then heady sum of £25. His intended address was given as the infamous East London address "Lavender Hill" (1951 film - The Lavender Hill Mob!")

During WW1 he is believed to have served with the Royal Garrison Artillery and was awarded a Long Service Good Conduct Medal in April 1921, as 1403593 Sergeant Watler E. Austing (initially serving in WW1 as Bombardier, RGA with the short number 28496) earning 1914-15 Triom having entered France on 20th December 1915. It would be interesting to know whether his Scots Guards service (1902 - 1908) countered towards his LSGC medal and that this is indeed the same man.

43 pages of printed material in total with useful service information included a template for a last Will which has not been completed (no point 'tempting fate', etc). Scarce.

Comm GrSt

Code: 68352