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Pictures courtesy of DNW

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Lot 155
To be Sold on: 21st May 2020

Estimate: £600 - £800

SAVE TO CABINET
Campaign Groups and Pairs
Pair: Captain F. H. C. Burne, Royal Engineers

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897 (Lieut. F. H. C. Burne, R.E.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (Capt: F. H. C. Burn, R.E.) some light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine and scarce (2) £600-£800
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Pair: Captain F. H. C. Burne, Royal Engineers

IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897 (Lieut. F. H. C. Burne, R.E.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (Capt: F. H. C. Burn, R.E.)

Francis Henry Cavendish Burne was born in Calcutta on 23 November 1870, the son of Colonel Sir Owen Burne, K.C.S.I., C.I.E. He was gazetted to the Royal Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant on 27 July 1889, and advanced to Lieutenant on 27 July 1892. He was attached No. 5 Company, Madras Sappers and Miners during the operations on the North West Frontier of India 1897-98, and was present with the Malakand Field Force at the relief of Chakdara, the action at Landakai, and in the operations in Bajaur and Mohmand country. He was afterwards attached to the Buner Field Force and was present at the capture of the Tanga Pass Medal with 2 clasps). Burne next witnessed active service in South Africa, where he arrived in March 1901, and was advanced to Captain on 1 April following. He was subsequently employed on operations in the Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, and returned to the U.K. on sick leave at the end of the year (Queen’s medal with 3 clasps). He was placed on the Retired List in June 1908, and died on 30 December 1945.

Pictures courtesy of DNW

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (Lieut: E. E. Ricketts. R.E. Vol:)

Edward Ernest Rickets was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, from Captain, 1st Gloucester R.E. Volunteers, on 10 March 1900. ‘Captain Ricketts, who volunteered and has been accepted for service in South Africa, has had considerable volunteering experience. He joined the First Gloucestershire Royal Engineers in 1889, passed the examination in military engineering and infantry drill in 1890, was promoted to Captain in 1891, passed the examination for field officers in 1899, and has been granted the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers.’ (Some Gloucestershire Officers and Volunteers at the Front, refers). Rickettes was mentioned in despatches by General Buller (London Gazette 8 February 1901) and by Lord Roberts (London Gazette 10 September 1901).

Sold with various related objects and photographs, including a combination penknife and fork, bone grips, inscribed ‘E. E. Rickets, 1st G.R.E.V.; a small pocket compass; and a contemporary publication, The War in South Africa - Some Gloucestershire Officers and Volunteers at the Front. A Local Souvenir 1899-1900, with short biographies and pictures of some 27 officers and volunteers, including Ricketts. There are several photographs of him in South Africa and others in later life, together with a news cutting announcing his mention in despatches, and a quantity of related family photographs.

Picture courtesy of DNW

Ashanti Star 1896 (26206 Sapper F. J. Lewis RE);
E&W Africa 1887 (1) 1897-98 (26206 Sapper F. J. Lewis. RE);
QSA (4) Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, Cape Colony (26206 Corpl. F. J. Lewis RE) the last clasp a contemporary tailor’s copy with unofficial rivets;
KSA (2) (26206 Sapr. F. J. Lewis. RE)

Sapper F. J. Lewis was drawn from the 2nd Telegraph Battalion, London, for service with the Ashanti Expeditionary Force under Captain R. S. Curtis, RE, Director of Telegraphs, from 19 December 1895 to 17 January 1896. Baden Powell described the men as ‘half-stripped and laying the line at a phenomenal rate of two and a half miles an hour. Up to Mansu the lines were on poles. Afterwards on the ground.’ The Ashanti Star was awarded to two officers and 32 men of the Telegraph Battalion. Lewis was also in West Africa during 1897-98 and was ‘employed on the construction of telegraph lines from Lagos to Saki; Isayhin to Jebba; Jebba along the river Niger towards Lokoja from 29 December 1897 to January 1899, and on their working and maintenance.’ His East and West Africa medal was issued to him on 10 October 1902 in South Africa where he had been serving in the Boar War, one of 12 clasps for ‘1897-98’ issued to the men of the Telegraph Battalion.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Belfast, Laing’s Nek (1992 Sapr. H. J. Medley. R.E.) minor official correction to surname;
KSA (2) (1992 L. Cpl. H. J. Medley. R.E.)

Born 1880 in Hampshire. Service papers extant.

Presumably a son and father group?


Picture courtesy of Bonhams

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, S.A.01, S.A.02 (8452 Cpl C.Strowbridge. RL. Engineers).
Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct, V.R. (George Strowbridge. Boatman H.M.Coast Guard)

28753 WO Cl. 2 H. Rutt, Royal Engineers.
Severely wounded in action Wagon Hill 6 January 1900.
MID Sir George White 23 March 1900.
With various badges namely: South Africa Servicemen’s Association, South Africa Active Service Association (numbered 184, issued in 1930 and made by Stokes of Melbourne), Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League Australia (large version issued between 1919 and 1922), silver Boer fob set in copper ring with green and yellow ribbon and a homemade RE badge. Harry Rutt enlisted at Devizes 20 December 1894 aged 19. Born Marlborough. Occupation carpenter and wheelwright. Wounded during the action in the gun pit for which Lieut. Digby Jones (Royal Engineers) and Tpr. Albrecht (Imperial Light Horse) were awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses. MID “for good services during the siege of Ladysmith” (LG 8 February 1901). Served in southern Nigeria 1911-12 but not entitled to any medal. Emigrated to Australia after WW1. Served in 23rd (Field) Company in South Africa, later transferring to 47th Company.