TOPIC:

Good heavens, what a superb trio, I like it very much indeed, whilst I have no particular interest in any branch of the senior service other than the RNAS, whatsoever, the Delhi Spearmen are another matter.
It was C Squadron that had actually fallen victim to the awful storm on the 10th of October 1899 off Durban, certainly, from memory, they lost over half of their horse's, they had been simply washed off the deck, with the result that the squadron were landed at Port Natal, they did not re join the regiment until the 20th of October, by which time the war was, most definitely, on.
A really lovely trio!

SWB wrote: Britannia was poorly attended by dealers and collectors alike, which is always a shame.

I managed to find a nice group: Pte 3557 G Gunner 9th Lancers and Pte DEAL14333 Royal Marines:

An interesting group for the switch in units and also the QSA is missing the "Natal" clasp, which was issued later and has been lost. I have been after a Natal clasp to the 9th Lancers as only one squadron ('C') got this clasp (160 issued). The combination of RoK,OFS,N is rare - just 4 in my database. Gunner was invalided in 1900 so no further ABW entitlement.

He joined or was conscripted into the RM in April 1918 age 45 and posted to a labour company. He unloaded ships in Le Havre and Honfleur, he broke a toe and crushed his thumb doing this work.

More research to do.

Hi David

Great to catch up with you last Sunday. Managed to get the QSA/Kim Star pair that were up for grabs. See you again in March hopefully.

Best regards
Ian

Ian,

On my last circuit, I did see a gap in DCM Medals' cabinet and wondered whether you had purchased the pair. DoKs to the Post Office are scarce too.

Best wishes
David

You have not told us about the QSA, is it from an erased dates die, is it actually engraved, did you notice George Gunner's statement of service is actually started off in 1893 by David Campbell himself?
Just three years later he would ride "The Soarer" to victory in the Grand National, moreover, when he died, he was one of very few cavalrymen who went to their graves with the scar of a enemy lance!

SWB wrote: Britannia was poorly attended by dealers and collectors alike, which is always a shame.

I managed to find a nice group: Pte 3557 G Gunner 9th Lancers and Pte DEAL14333 Royal Marines:

An interesting group for the switch in units and also the QSA is missing the "Natal" clasp, which was issued later and has been lost. I have been after a Natal clasp to the 9th Lancers as only one squadron ('C') got this clasp (160 issued). The combination of RoK,OFS,N is rare - just 4 in my database. Gunner was invalided in 1900 so no further ABW entitlement.

He joined or was conscripted into the RM in April 1918 age 45 and posted to a labour company. He unloaded ships in Le Havre and Honfleur, he broke a toe and crushed his thumb doing this work.

More research to do.

Hello Frank

Pictures of the reverse of Gunner's QSA and the impressed naming:





I was not aware of the fame of "Barbara" Campbell, his Wikipedia entry makes interesting reading, thanks.

Hello Meurig,
Well, I think that medal is really superb and I would have bought it immediately, without any hesitation whatsoever.
I make mention of Campbell, simply because your George Gunner was there and would have actually known him, not socially, but, he would still have known him, I think the "Barbara" was a staff thing, after he had taken command of the Sixth Cavalry Brigade in the Great War, but, he certainly was, after the 1896 "National" win, inevitably known to all as "Soarer Campbell" a very flamboyant gentleman, who actually very nearly became unstuck himself on the 25th of November 1899 near Enslin, he was rescued by Lord Compton, but, in buying that trio, you have a man who served with him at least during part of his time with the regiment.

Can you even begin to imagine though, what it was like for Gunner to be a Delhi Spearman, in what really was the "golden" age, apart from the bloody hard work, both Mounted and Dismounted Review Order and Guard Duties at Aldershot, very colourful, with all that plastron.
Going out to Pietermaritzburg and then Ladysmith, then up to the sub continent and Muttra, being able to watch the Kadir Cup meeting of 1899, to see your own regiment win, not only that, to see them victorious in the Hoghunter's race too.
Then the war itself, back to South Africa and a truly epic ride to Kimberley!
A great medal, I like it very much!
Regards Frank