The Forgotten Cumberland

A Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private BERTIE GEORGE of the Queen's Regiment, led to the discovery of a much wider story, the identity of a soldier who had served under an assumed name, his earlier military career, and his connection to a family with a long and distinguished history of military service, including one ancestor who was aide-de-camp to the Duke of WELLINGTON.

This illustrated article follows the research that identified BERTIE GEORGE as GEORGE BERTIE CUMBERLAND, tracing his life, his family background and the unanswered questions surrounding his military service.

The medal is not uncommon, but the story behind it is anything but ordinary.