TOPIC:

A rarely seen combination.


Picture courtesy of Liverpool Medals

QSA (4) CC OFS Tr SA02 (8385 Pte. F. Herbert. Rl: Fus. M.I.)
Tibet (1) Gyantse (8385 Pte F. Herbert, 1st Bn. Royl Fusrs.)

An interesting and rare pair, Pte Herbert served during the Boer War with the 4th Bn Royal Fusiliers, also called the 20th Battalion Mounted Infantry. It is unusual to see these two medals together as the 1st Battalion who fought in Tibet did not take part in the Boer War, the only men to earn both had to switch across battalions.

According to the medal roll he earned the the CC & OFS bars with the 20th Bn Mounted Infantry on attachment, earning the rest with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, in the remarks stating “To 1st Bn R.F. Mandalay”
His transfer to the 1st Bn R. Fus then coincided with them being sent to Tibet on the Younghusband Expedition of 1904, being the only British Regiment present and the only British Regiment to have fought in action at an altitude of 16,500 feet.

He was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, He enlisted aged 18 Years 2 months on 7th November 1900, likely having heard plenty about the Boer War and itching to become 18 and join the war effort.

He was posted to South Africa with the 4th Battalion on 9th January 1902, two days earlier on the 7th January he had passed his Mounted Infantry class at Shorncliffe and was sent to form part of the Mounted Royal Fusiliers, later transferring to the 2nd Battalion on 11th August 1902.

As a reservist he was mobilised with the BEF on 5th August 1914 and was Posted on 14th August 1914, but he was found medically unfit and discharged on 25th November 1914, having served for 14 years, attributing his illness to his service in India between 1903 & 1908.

This is his full entitlement he did have the chance to earn any WW1 medals before his discharge.

£1,295

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) CC SA02 (Capt: F. T. T. Moore, Imp: Yeo:);
Tibet (1) Gyantse (Captn. F. T. T. Moore, S. & T. Corps);
BWM & VM with MID (Lt. Col. F. T. T. Moore.)

Frederick Thornton Trevor Moore was born on 20 May 1870. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant, from the Militia, Connnaught Rangers, 8 June 1889; Lieutenant, 24 September 1890; Lieutenant, Indian Army, 5 September 1891; Captain, Indian Army, 8 June 1900; Captain, Imperial Yeomanry, 11 January to 20 October, 1902; Major, Indian Army, 8 June 1907; retired 11 August 1911.

According to his own statement of services, he was Adjutant of the 4th Cavalry, Indian Army; Adjutant of the 28th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, which he helped to raise and took it to South Africa in 1902; raised and commanded the 56th Camel Corps; commanded the 10th Mule Corps on the Tibet Expedition; and was Station Staff Officer at Jubblepore.

During the Great War he applied for and was recommended to a vacant Majority in 3rd Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Battalion on 4 August 1914, and afterwards raised and commanded the 7th Service Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, and served with them for 8 months in France from 18 February 1916, until the battalion was amalgamated. Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 7 November 1917 (London Gazette 1 January 1918).

Lieutenant-Colonel Moore died at Richmond, Yorkshire, on 15 November 1925.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5798 Pte W. Saril, 2nd Rl: Fus:);
KSA (2) (5798 Pte W. Sarel. Rl: Fusiliers.);
Tibet (1) Gyantse (5798 W. Sarel 1st Bn Ryl Fuslrs).

Private William Sarel is confirmed on QSA and KSA rolls and having served with the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers during
the Boer War with clasp entitlement as above. He continued to serve during the Tibet 1903-4 Campaign, receiving the above medal with ‘Gyantse’ clasp.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela River, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (7241 Pte R. Howse, 2nd Royal Fus:);
KSA (2) (7241 Corpl: R. Howse. Rl: Fusiliers.);
Tibet 1904 (1) Gyantse (7241 Corpl. R. Howse. 1st Bn. Ryl. Fusiliers.);
British War and Victory Medals (GS-5889 W. O. Cl. 2 R. Howse. R. Fus.);
Army LS&GC GV (7241 Sjt: R. Howse. R. Fus.)

Provenance: Spink September 1981.

Reuben Howse was born at Windsor in 1874 and enlisted at London on 17 November 1892. Posted to the 2nd Battalion he saw Home Service with the Shropshire Light Infantry until 24 November 1898 when he joined the Army Reserve. Howse was not to remain a reservist for long however, returning to the colours and joining the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 15 March 1899.

He was still with this unit on the outbreak of the Boer War, entering the conflict on South Africa on 22 October 1899. The Battalion was present for the Battle of Colenso although not heavily engaged, but they were to see a great deal of action during the increasingly frantic attempts to breach the Tugela Line. They were later to see action with the British columns during the Guerrilla phase of the conflict.

Posted back to Britain on 22 October 1902 it was less than a year before Howse was again posted far afield. This time he was sent to join the 1st Battalion in India, arriving on 2 October 1903. Here he was to take part in the Tibet Expedition the following year, the Royal Fusiliers were particularly heavily engaged during the Storming of Gyantse Dzong.

Howse returned to Britain on 23 January 1905 and remained there until 1913 when he was discharged. Despite this his career was not over and with the outbreak of the Great War the next year he again returned to the colours. Entering the war in France as a Colour Sergeant on 31 May 1915, with the 9th Battalion. He soon put his experience to good work being 'mentioned' after six months (London Gazette 1 January 1916).

His age and physical condition saw him posted to the Regimental Depot as Company Quartermaster Sergeant and later Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. However the war took its toll on Howse and he was invalided before its conclusion on 6 March 1917.

The group to Howse sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,900 yesterday. Totals: GBP 2,447. R 54,570. AUD 4,500. NZD 4,860. CAD 3,890. USD 2,890. EUR 2,720.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (6) Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (4077. Corpl. T. E. Walsh. 9/Lcrs.);
KSA (2) (4077 Corpl: T. E. Walsh 9th Lancers.);
Tibet 1903-04, (0) (4077 Sergt: T. E. Walsh. 9th Lcrs.);
BWM 1914-20 (4077 S-Cond. T. E. Walsh. I.U.L.);
Army LS&GC GV1st issue (Staff-Serjt. T. E. Walsh. I.M.L)

Thomas Edward Walsh was born in November 1876 and initially served with the 9th Lancers during the Boer War. Returning to India, he was posted on attachment to the Supply and Transport Corps, and served during the Tibet Campaign. He later transferred to the Remount Department and served with the Indian Unattached List during the Great War, with sole entitlement to the British War Medal.

An active member of the 9th Lancers Old Comrades Association, Walsh returned from India during the 1920s and was soon appointed to the Committee of the OCA. He was latterly appointed as Hon. Treasurer - a role he held for some 15 years. He died in November 1950 and is buried in Harrow.