TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Aubrey's

QSA (5) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (9568 Pte. A. H. Pooley, R.A.M.C.);
KSA (2) (9568 Pte. A. H. Pooley, R.A.M.C.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, South Africa 1902 (16790 Pte. T. Jones. R.A.M.C.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued;
QSA (2) Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 (14319 Pte. W. H. Pickering. R.A.M.C.);
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal Ed VII (476 S. Sjt: W. H. Pickering. 6/London F.A. R.A.M.C.)

William Henry Pickering attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps on 21 June 1900 and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War from 28 June 1900 to 3 October 1901, being discharged on 7 October 1901.

Subsequently enlisting in the Territorial Force, he was advanced Staff Sergeant, and was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. He served at home during the first two years of the Great War before being discharged, suffering tuberculosis of the lungs, on 31 March 1916.

Picture courtesy of Spink

CB (Military), gold and enamel, bulbous centres, straight bar suspension, gold buckle on ribbon;
Egypt (1) The Nile 1884-85;
Queen's Sudan
QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Rel. of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek;
KSA (2);
Khedive's Star 1884-6;
Khedive's Sudan (0)

CB London Gazette 27 September 1901.
MID London Gazette 9 December 1898, 8 February 1901, 10 September 1901.

James Albert Clery was born at Knockling, Limerick, Ireland on 21 December 1846, son of Thomas Clery of Ballynabinch House. Educated at Stoneyhurst he attended Trinity College Dublin where he qualified as a Doctor (M.B.) in 1870.

Commissioned Assistant Surgeon on 1 April 1871 Clery was further advanced Surgeon-Major in 1883 just prior to the Gordon Relief Expedition, 1884-85. During that expedition he commanded the Abu Dam Field Hospital. Returning to that country for the Sudan Campaign of 1896 Clery was 'mentioned' for his role in the campaign (London Gazette 9 December 1898, refers).

Advanced Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel in 1891 he was promoted Surgeon Colonel in 1899, just prior to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. Clery was appointed Principal Medical Officer on the line of communication in Natal and participated in the Relief of Ladysmith operations. He was twice mentioned in the London Gazette of 8 February 1901, the first time states:

'Colonel J. A. Clery, who has been in charge of the general hospital at Mooi, has displayed great powers of organisation and readiness to overcome difficulties. His hospital is a source of admiration to all who have visited it.'

The second time expands upon this stating:

'Colonel J. A. Clery, M.B., Principal Medical Officer of the Lines of Communication.-Is an Officer of sound judgment, common sense and high administrative power. In his hands the hospital at Mooi river became remarkable as a model of what a hospital should be, and since that he has done most valuable service in supervising the hospitals and medical work along the Lines of Communication in Natal. I trust his services may be rewarded.'

Moving on to a hospital was situated at Chievely Siding, just south of Colenso, he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath to go with another 'mention' (London Gazette 10 September 1901). Advanced Surgeon-General on 23 May 1902 he served until 1902.

Clery is noted as returning to service in 1915 however he did not qualify for any medals in that time. He died on 10 February 1920 and is commemorated at Greenwich Cemetery.

A slight error from the end of that Spink bio; Clery was placed on temporary half-pay ("ill health") on 29 December 1905 and retired on 21 December 1906. Not sure if Spink tries to add all promotions in, but if so they missed his advancement to brigade-surgeon-lieutenant-colonel on 10 March 1895.

Picture courtesy of Spink

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight Commander's (KBE) Badge;
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath; Companion's (CB) breast Badge;
The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companion's (CMG) breast Badge;
The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Knight's (KStJ) Badge;
QSA (0) British War and Victory Medals;
Belgium; Order of Leopold II, Commander's Badge, silver-gilt and enamel;
Argentinian, Republic, Merit Medal.

Together with an Amicable Society of Blues, medal engraved 'Lt Col J. Leigh-Wood. CB., CMG President 1918',

KBE London Gazette 9 June 1919.
CB London Gazette 3 June 1918.
CMG London Gazette 26 June 1903: 'Care of Prisoners of War, Pretoria'
K St J London Gazette 4 February 1919.
MID London Gazette 17 June 1902. 'Care of Prisoners of War, Pretoria'
Order of Leopold II Edinburgh Gazette 2 November 1917, permission to wear granted on 24 October 1917.

James William Leigh-Wood was born at Marylebone on 5 April 1870, the son of James and Ellen Wood, he added the Leigh to his name in 1918. Educated at Christ's Hospital he joined the Amicable Society of Blues upon leaving. Gaining employment with Cox and Company, a banking firm, at the age of 18 he rose through their ranks becoming an extremely well-respected businessman, at this time he also joined the Royal Empire Society.

Leigh-Wood was heavily involved in the Anglo-Boer War, working to care for Prisoners of War in Pretoria. The conditions in which the prisoners had kept was under serious review in Britain and a number of British civilians had volunteered to aid the Boer's kept in the concentration camps. He was 'mentioned' for these services and later appointed a C.M.G. to go with it in 1902.

Joining a partnership with the merchant bankers Brown, Shipley and Company in 1908 he was to work with this company for the next thirty years. Still there on the outbreak of the Great War, Leigh-Wood once again threw himself into aid work, this time for Allied soldiers. He was involved in a number of ways however qualified for medals as a Commandant of the French Red Cross, entering the in France in May 1916.

After the war Leigh-Wood became chairman of the Federation of the Empire Games on its establishment in 1929 and head of its Council in England. Accompanying the team to Canada in 1930 he was involved in the later organisation of additional Games in London and Sydney. That same year he was appointed a Lieutenant for the City of London.

Retiring from Brown, Shipley and Company in 1937 Leigh-Wood accepted the Deputy Chairmanship of the Eastern Bank and took a seat on the London Board of Advice of the National Bank of Australasia. He was also appointed a Director of the Commercial Union Assurance Company.

In addition to these appointments he was a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths' Company and a governor of Christ's Hospital and St. Bartholomew's Hospital. At the time of his death in Mayfair on 21 March 1949 he was Vice President of the Royal Empire Society.

QSA roll (WO100/224p232)