The Quartermaster's Store

1914-15 Trio plus box and 1915 Gift Card to Lieut M.A.R. Kannemeyer, South African 20th Mounted Rifles (Bilingual Victory Medal)

WW1 Trio to an Officer in the South African auxiliary forces, 1915 -15 star impressed Lt. M.A.R. Kannemayer, 20th M.R., and the pair correctly impressed Lt. M.A.R. Kannemayer. In EF condition the BWM toned. Scarce South African issue bi-lingual Victory Medal. Ribbons original and full length. 1914- 15 Box top and bottom fractured at corners, with paper label to recipient 10/31 Lt. M.A.R. Kannemeyer, 20th M.R. Original 1915 gift card from the 1914 Queen Mary Gift Box, annotated to reverse with his initials. This latter item is in poor and perished condition but came with the medals.

Whilst the British version of the Victory medal was awarded to all other Dominion and Empire troops, the South African government issued their own bilingual version in both English and Afrikaans to South African military who had served in a theatre of operations between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. The medal is quite rare, just 75,000 examples being awarded, only Thailand, Brazil and Cuba presented fewer.

During WW1 the 20th Mounted Rifles were a unit of the Mounted Corps of the Active Citizen Force and only saw action in the successful campaign in German South West Africa of 1914/15. 20th M.R. Graaff-Reinet Ruiters G.S.W.A. Mil.Dist.No.15 1st Portion of Regt at Upington Reserve about 10.3.15 to Upington.

A200

Code: 58800

195.00 GBP

Natal ( Carbineers ) Cavalry Volunteers Unmarked Silver Shooting Medallion, 1896 - Present at Defence of Ladysmith

An attractively engraved medal ( circa 3.6cm across ) to the Natal Carbineers, maker marked T&F, with original pin fitting and c clasp fittings and engraved on both sides as follows:

Obverse engraved: " Natal Cavalry Vols, Field Firing Comp, 1896, won by E Troop, 119 points "
Reverse engraved: " Presented to Tr. A. Miles by Lt F.E. Foxon, O.C. Richmond Troop "

Alexander Miles, Trooper, Natal Carbineers (No. 4 – Richmond Squadron) entitled to Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Defence of Ladysmith

Born in Surrey in 1856, the son of Thomas and his Ann Miles. Emigrated to South Africa and became a resident of Richmond, a small farming hamlet just outside of Pietermaritzburg. Attested for service with the Natal Carbineers in 1888, Trooper A. Miles, regimental no 67, on the outbreak of the second Anglo Boer conflict, mustered as part of No. 4 Squadron of the Natal Carbineers on 29th Sept 1899, under the command of Major G.F. Macfarlane, the then Mayor of Pietermaritzburg. The regiment immediately proceeded to Ladysmith on the northern Natal battle front. The regiment, including Miles, were to become besieged in that small bustling township.

All told the Siege was to last three months and, with the troops reduced to eating horse meat and enteric and other conditions rife, it was small wonder that life was unpleasant. To add insult to injury there was also the Long Tom guns of the Boer forces which peppered the town and its inhabitants with shells fired randomly. This caused more of a nuisance that injury to life and limb but it was a sober reminder that freedom of movement was severely restricted and liberation still distant.

Possibly as a result of deprivations experienced in the siege Trooper Miles was, at the age of 45, discharged from Carbineers, being taken off strength on 7 March 1901 on account of ill health.

He returned to his civilian pursuits and, having married Rose Ann Hall in Richmond some time before, fathered no fewer than six children: Ada Elizabeth Harding; William Alexander Miles, Florence Ann Lowe, Percy Jex Miles, Agnes Ethel Vear and Frank Norman Miles.

He passed away at the age of seventy-six years and seven months at “Hillglen” his property in the Avoca area near Verulam north of Durban, on 6th May 1932. He was a retired Pensioner with the South African Railways and Harbours at the time. He had moved to the North Coast area in 1907 where he had purchased several properties.

Source:https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-awards/5402-a-miles-natal-carbineers-siege-of-ladysmith?limitstart=0 (with thanks to the researcher, Rory)

War service record of Lt- Col F.E.Foxon, Natal Carbineers:

FOXON Frank Ernest Augustus Cock, Lieutenant Colonel .Attested 26/11/1880, E Sqn.Magistrate, Ixopo.
1879 served with Natal Native Pioneers.Awarded 1879 medal and clasp.
Promoted Corporal 2/4/1885, Sergeant 28/4/1886, Lieutenant 6/4/1889, Captain 1/12/1897.
Served Boer War 29/9/1899 -19/10/1900, 18/9/1901-16/10/1901.Awarded QSA and Clasps.
He was in action at Rietfontein (24.10.1899) and Lombard's Kop (30.10.1899), and when besieged at Ladysmith (November 1899 - 28.2.1900)(28.2.1900) wounded at Dejagersdrifton patrol duty on 30 July 1900 and took part in the Langsberg action.
Promoted Major 10/3/1902
Awarded the V.D. Decoration in 1905
During the Bambatha Rebellion of 1906 he commanded a squadron of Natal Carbineers.
Promoted Lt Colonel 28/12/1906.
He was granted permission to retain his rank and wear the uniform of his regiment on his retirement.

Source: http://www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/countries/topics/southafrica/6180/

The Natal Carbineers are said to be the oldest volunteer regiment in the former British Empire and the senior regiment of the South African Army. The unit has fought in every conflict “logistically possible” since its establishment as the Pietermaritzburg Irregular Horse at a meeting of volunteers in the Pietermaritzburg court house on January 15, 1855.

B28.11

Code: 57471

55.00 GBP

WW1 (2nd ) 68th Welsh Division Bronze Medallion

A rare survivor of a little known second line division. Reverse un-named. Circa 27mm in diameter. In good overall condition.

The 2nd Welsh Division was a 2nd Line Territorial Force division of the British Army in the First World War. The division was formed as a duplicate of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in January 1915. As the name suggests, the division recruited in Wales, but also included units from Cheshire and Herefordshire in England. In August 1915, in common with all Territorial Force divisions, it was numbered as 68th (2nd Welsh) Division. During the winter of 1917–18, the division was extensively reorganized and lost its territorial identity; henceforth it was known as 68th Division.

It served on home defence duties throughout the war, whilst recruiting, training and supplying drafts to overseas units and formations. It was stationed for most of the war in East Anglia, particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk and never left the UK. It was eventually disbanded in March 1919.

G164

Code: 62904

SOLD

Army Temperance Medals Grouping to one recipient, Association of India (ATAI), Scarce

Attractively displayed, there are four items to this piece, which appears to have been worn by the same recipient. It comprises:
1) Original ATAI "3 year" yellow and maroon ribbon, circa 3.6cm wide
2) Ornate Fidelity bar (unmarked silver) indicating two years abstinence, with early pattern pin fitting (later versions had a brooch fitting) with original 3.5cm lenth of pin, bar is 4cm wide at widest part
3) Sewn to middle of ribbon an ATAI 3 year silver medal in the shape of a square with 25mm sides suspended by a corner, with original ornate swivelling suspension bar
4) attached to the bottom of the ribbon by just a domestic pin, the ATAI one year abstinence medal which is in unmarked silver, and about 34mm in diameter, with the date 1897.

Great to find these medals mounted as they were worn.

Code: 55344

45.00 GBP

Queens South Africa Medal ( QSA ) to Squadron Sergeant Major F Durman, 3rd Hussars

With copy of medal roll confirming his entitlement to the three clasps, SA 02, Trans & OFS (worn in the correct order). Third type reverse and correctly impressed on the rim to:

"2437 S.Serjt: - Maj: F. Durman. 3rd Hussars"

Slightly lose at suspension but otherwise in GVF+ condition. Replacement ribbon.

The 3rd Hussars came late to the conflict, having sailed from India, and arrived at Durban in December 1901. After being stationed in the Newcastle district for a short time, they and the 20th Hussars were brigaded under Colonel Nixon, and were employed in the last great drives, chiefly in the extreme north-east of the Orange River Colony, when many of the enemy were taken. This column was responsible for many of these captures, and in Lord Kitchener's despatch of 8th April 1902 he mentioned that "Colonel Nixon reported the discovery of three Krupp field guns which were found hidden in the bed of a tributary of Liebensberg's Vlei". Dealing with an earlier drive, Lord Kitchener stated that Colonel Nixon had on the night of 26th February 1902 "successfully repulsed an attack by a large number of the enemy upon the line of the Cornelius River". One officer gained mention by Lord Kitchener during the war, and in the final despatch 3 officers and 3 non-commissioned officers were mentioned.

The 3rd Hussars were a bit of a family firm for the Durman's with a number of them having achieved the rank of Quartermaster and RSM.

Sadly his son, Fred Durman was killed in WW1 serving with the 24th Battalion CEF. Copies of his son's attestation papers included which confirm he was the son of the late Sergeant Major F.J. Durman of the 3rd Hussars. The family was from Glasgow, Scotland.

Coll

Code: 62736

165.00 GBP

WW1 Medal Group of Three to Arthur Dale, Mercantile Marine & The Suffolk Regiment

Medals mounted for wear on original ribbons (much wear to BWM ribbon) as follows:

British War Medal (skimmed and renamed '21783 Pte. A. Dale, Suffolk Regt')
Mercantile Marine War Medal, 1914 – 18 (correctly impressed 'Arthur Dale')
Allied Victory Medal (correctly impressed '21783 Pte. A. Dale, Suff R.)

With obituary and much original paper work. Sadly the BWM has been renamed a long time back. However, this could have been by him however, changing his BWM as issued by Board to Trade to reflect his service with the Suffolks. Still an interesting group with a lot of history and paperwork.

Arthur Henry Waite Dale was born on 5th December 1894 in Boston, Lincolnshire and he lived to the ripe old age of 84. During the First World War he served in both the Mercantile Marine and then the Army, with the 1st Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment in the Salonika campaign where he contracted Malaria. He also saw service as a special constable in the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve during the General Strike of 1926. He worked for Associated Newspapers in London for more than twenty years.

The paperwork includes the following original documents:

I) Board of Trade Continuous Certificate of Discharge No 792111 named to A Dale which confirmed his service on the “Lusitania” as a Trimmer and on the Lycia” as a Fireman and a Trimmer.
2) W.M.2 form for his entitlement to the Mercantile Marine Medal (certificate 792111) issued by the Board of Trade
3) Printed certificate of thanks from the Government addressed to A Dale, Esq, for his service as a Special Constable in the Metropolitan Police in the General Strike of 1926.
4) Newspaper clipping detailing his death and funeral at Camboune in Cornwall where he had lived since 1970 (taken from the 'West Briton' dated 24th May 1979.
5) Numerous tourist colour picture postcards of Salonika during WW1 sent to his family
6) Copy of WW1 MIC card for BWM and VM
7) Various original paperwork concerning discharge in 1919 and his treatment for Malaria (Over 30,000 British Troops contracted this illness in Salonika in WW1)
8) A handwritten anecdotal account of his war service recounted by a friend which does support some of the above but also not all of it! Especially about his serving with the 12th Suffolks (Bantams).

Coll.

Code: 61369

SOLD

A fascinating WW2 group to a Lady - her medals, cloth badges and paperwork to R. Bachelor ATS

As mounted, presumably for display in a frame, now removed. A superb collection to this long serving female member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service ( ATS ) of her mementos of service throughout WW2. All mounted on an original khaki cloth panel it includes a formation sign combination of Northern Home Counties 1st Pattern of a green apple on a blue diamond with a ATS Signals Section White over Blue with the numeral 2 in black still attached to original uniform backing, a curled up ATS lanyard, a printed Anti-Aircraft battery formation sign, a 5 year war service strip with an extra strip added to make it 6 years, a Defence Medal and War Medal both unnamed as issued, a fibre ID disk dog tag named to ATS W12134 R.C. (Roman Catholic) VOL (volunteered) Bachelor, R., two pieces of original paperwork, one a permission to be absent from camp stamped GHQ Home Forces Signals, No 7 London District Group, and the other a permit for entering to Central Ordnance Depot with her signature and finally, a photo of Bachelor posing in her lorry cab. Worthy of further research, a totally original untouched group.

C2.5

Code: 61863

155.00 GBP