Historical information

Edwin Alderson was born in 1859 and served in several campaigns of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He saw service in the First Boer War in 1881 in the Transvaal. In 1896 he was sent to Mashonaland as a commander of a regiment of local troops during the Second Matabele War.
In 1900 shortly after the outbreak of the Second Boer War he returned to South Africa to command the Mounted Infantry against the Boer forces.
Alderson also served in the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War, Mounted Camel Regiment during the failed expedition to relieve Khartoum and rescue General Gordon.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Alderson was in charge of the 1st Mounted Division.
He retired from active service in 1920 aged 61.
In 1901, as a result of Alderson's contribution to many campaigns he was rewarded with confirmation as a Brigadier General, appointment as a Companion of the Order of Bath and to receive the ceremonial post of Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria, who died the same year. He also received the Queen's South Africa Medal.
He died in 1927 aged 68.

Physical description

Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.