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I imagine that there were many other such 'characters' escaping justice by going to the Colonies around 1900, and Mr. Counter seems to have led an interesting life. No record of his grave at Find A Grave, any information on his service during the war?

Stockbroker's clerk, Lancer, enteric patient, electrical engineer, opium eater - all those rôles have been played by Albert Walter Counter, and all in four years. At the Guildhall, London, on Monday, he appeared in still another part - that of a prisoner in the dock on a charge of forging a cheque on the London and Westminster Bank. It was said he committed the crime in 1896, when he was a clerk in the employment of Messrs. Cousins and Co., stockbrokers. He was said to have forged the name of the firm to the cheque, which was presented and cashed.

He was said to have been arrested on a warrant, but he vanished, and has only recently been heard of at a nursing home, invalided from service at the front. Immediately after the warrant had been issued he enlisted in the 12th Lancers, and was in the service until 1898, when he deserted. Apparently to escape the consequences he went to South Africa, and got work as an electrical engineer. So he continued until the war broke out. Then his military enthusiasm re-awoke, and he enlisted again.

He was badly wounded at Elands Laagte, but he recovered sufficiently to go back to active service, and he was in the action at Spion Kop, and was sent home as an invalid to the nursing home at Warwick. In view of his career, and of the fact that his health would probably prevent his surviving a term of imprisonment, no evidence was offered against him. He was, however, held in custody on the charge of desertion.

(Leek Post, Saturday 29th September 1900)

Have found this, which was a response on the Great War Forum to a query about a Frederick Albert Walter Counter -
"From snippets gleaned from other posts in the past, I think officers records are separately stored, especially if they stayed in the Army after the Armistice.

That usually means his previous service records as an enlisted man may be with them.

You presumably already know he was born 10th November 1891, married Lena Violet Carter at Upper Tooting Holy Trinity on 30 June 1917 (after his promotion and prior to joining the Tank Corps?).

His death in December 1973 in Wandsworth will obviously be known to you.

Have you accessed the 1911 Census showing him living at 37 Finborough Road, Chelsea with his mother Jessie Laura, aged 42 born Notting Hill Gate and married 19 years (so marriage in 1882)

Frederick age given as 18 (not 20 if born in 1891), born Chelsea, was an assistant clerk at a hat manufacturer, and his 16 year old sister Nellie Sybil, a florists assistant born somewhat surprisingly in Wolverhampton. His father, Albert Walter, aged 38 was residing at Rowton House Lodging House 221, Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith, occupation Mechanical Engineer and birthplace Marylebone, was still alive as Jesse showed herself as married, not widowed.

His Medal Index Card shows he started the War as a Serjeant 475 in the RAMC, entering France on 15 Jan 1915 and thus entitled to the 1914-15 Star, which would have Sjt and RAMC inscribed on the rim, plus the British War and Victory medals inscribed to him as Lieutenant 5th Battalion Tank Corps.

He was commissioned on 27 April 1917. Correction: His medals might ALL be RAMC as it appears they are on the RAMC Roll.

His address is shown as Waratah, Dolphin Road, Shoreham in September 1921 which is when his medals would have been issued."
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index....bert-walter-counter/

The Albert Walter Counter who appeared in the 1911 census would therefore have been aged approximately 28 in 1900.

Good grief!

I can see a 30381 Trooper A W Counter in the PoWLH with clasps CC OFS & SA01. The medal was issued to an address in Fulham, SW.

Very dubious about his other claims. There is no evidence I can see that put him in Natal in October 1899 or January 1900.

Mr Counter must have been an accomplished liar in his day!! He served in 1901 with the Prince of Wales Light Horse - a Cape Town-based regiment and the closest he came to either Spioenkop of Elandslaagte that I can tell (unless under a non-de-plume) was his Orange Free State and Cape Colony clasp to his medal.

He must have redeemed himself after the ABW as he appears to have have had WWI service with both the Royal Marines (Anti Aircraft Battery) and the British Red Cross.

Regards

Rory

David beat me to it!

He does seem to have benefited very nicely from his tales.

I can see him with a walking stick in court, hobbling due to his war wounds.