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Hi All,

Great photo Rory. I'll need to copy it as one of my first purchases was the QSA to 363 C.C. Bell, CMI, clasps, C.C., Drief., Joh., D. Hill, Witt., SA 01. He died after return to Ceylon and I understand that his name is on the Boer War Memorial in Ceylon.

Cheers,

Jim .

Interesting a different set of bars again.......

Still a fantastic medal......

Mike

jim51 wrote: Hi All,

Great photo Rory. I'll need to copy it as one of my first purchases was the QSA to 363 C.C. Bell, CMI, clasps, C.C., Drief., Joh., D. Hill, Witt., SA 01. He died after return to Ceylon and I understand that his name is on the Boer War Memorial in Ceylon.

Cheers,

Jim .

Interested members
(Sorry, initially I put this on another topic by mistake - )

Regarding the Ceylon M.i., I had a bit of a trawl via a favourite search engine and found that the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Kent presented the Ceylon M.I. with Colours and presented medals to the returned members of the Corps. This occurred between 12-15 April, 1901. Nearly a year later, a memorial service was held at St. Paul's church, Kandi - and a South African campaign memorial window was dedicated "to fallen comrades". This was unveiled by Sir. W.Ridgeway and medals presented.
SAFF shows the following Entries:
"201 Sgt. A. Hopper, died of disease, Bloemfontein, 16th May 1900"
"299 Pte. R. Hamilton, died of disease, Bloemfontein, 12 May 1900"
"QM/Sgt. Cheyne (no initial shown) died of disease, Kroonstad, 1st June, 1900"
"375 Tpr. C.Hammond, Sev. wounded, Diamond Hill, 11th June 1900"
"Lt. A.H.Thomas, killed, Bultfontein, 4th October 1900"
"274 Cpl. J.W.B.Paul, wounded Nooitgedacht 13th December 1900"
"379 Tpr. W.M.Kelly, killed - as above"
"293 L/Cpl. P.Sturdee, Sev. wounded - as above"
"347 Tpr. R.W.Braithwaite, Sev. wounded - as above".

Hopefully, the memorial window remains.
IL.

IL
Thank you for your post. Although the Ceylon M I were relatively few in number, and were of no great military significance, they were indeed an interesting and unusual group of men.
I too hope that the memorial window has survived. At least it cannot have been melted down for its precious metals content.
Regards
Brett

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 [the latter a tailor’s copy] (Lieut. R. Cotesworth. Ceylon. M.I.);
1914-15 Star (Capt. R. Cotesworth. R.M.);
BWM and VM (Maj. R. Cotesworth. R.M.);
Jubilee 1897, in bronze (Corpl. R. Cotesworth. C.M.I.);
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service GV (Capt. Robert Cotesworth Ceylon Mtd. Rif. Reserve.).

Major Robert Cotesworth was born on 19 February 1865, at Walthamstow Essex, the son of William Cotesworth. He was educated at Winchester College and appears to have been part of an important family of tea merchants based in Ceylon. He joined the Ceylon Mounted Infantry as a Corporal c.1897 and after promotion to Lieutenant he took part in the fighting during the Boer War, for which he received a QSA with 6 clasps (roll confirms).

He was later promoted to Captain on 1 June 1904, and subsequently joined the Ceylon Mounted Rifles Reserve.

He re-enlisted for service in the Great War with the Royal Marines on 11 May 1915 and was commissioned as Temporary Captain with the Royal Marines Howitzer Brigade, and later with the Artillery Anti-Aircraft Brigade in 1916. Latterly he was employed as officer in charge of the RMA section at General Headquarters, 3rd Echelon.

In later life he returned with some frequency to Ceylon, with trips recorded in 1929, 1930 and 1936. He lived in Hampshire at Manor Lodge, Lee-on-Solent with his wife Katharine, and died in 1947.

The lovely group to Major Cotesworth sold for a hammer price of £900. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £1,116. R21,400. Au$2,000. Can$1,860. US$1,510