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The estimate for Barry's medals is £2,800-£3,200 for the auction in two weeks' time. When they last appeared at DNW, in June 2009, they hammered for £4,500.

Barry's medals sold this afternoon and I watched as the bidding escalated. It ended with a hammer price of £5,500.

A selection of slightly unusual clasps to the ILH.



329 Cpl G W Ripley. QSA (4) RoM Eland DoL Tr
1486 Pte R Collery. QSA (4) Wep Tr Witt CC OFS 01
1138 SS J L Ward. QSA (3) Rhod RoM Tr
860 Tpr: T Isitt. QSA (4) Natal RoM Tr 01

Just advertised by Liverpool Medals. A snip at £1695!

QSA (5) RoM Eland DoL OFS Tr (Lieut A. McInnes, Imperial Light Horse)


Picture courtesy of Liverpool Medals

All bars confirmed making a very rare combination to a Colonial Officer.

He began as a Trooper, No 358 Allan McInnes 1st I.L.H. and was present at the early battle of Elandslaagte, following that his unit was besieged at Ladysmith throughout the end of 1899.

Upon the Relief of Ladysmith, he was then sent to Relieve Mafeking, earning the bar.

The Commander in Chief's Bodyguard was formed around November 1900, under order of Lord Roberts for Major Laing to raise a fighting regiment called "The Bodyguard" the unit was supposed to be about 570 strong but with major Laing's reputation, he had almost 1000 recruits straight away.

The newly commissioned Lieutenant Allan McInnes joined the C in C's Bodyguard on 15th April 1901 as a Lieutenant and served with them until 31st July 1901, soon afterwards the unit was reduced and disbanded. During his time in the unit, they were about 1000 strong under Colonel Chesney, operating in Eastern Transvaal, towards the end of July, nearing the end of McInnes service with the Bodyguard, they were involved in a number of skirmishes, leading to the death of Capt O'Flaherty and one man wounded, with several men being wounded.

That seems to me to be an amazingly optimistic price! Such medals were a lot cheaper when I bought them, but they were still the most expensive elements in my collection, and they are few in number.

Brett

Pictures courtesy of John Burridge

BSACM rev undated (1) Mashonaland 1890 (Tpr. G. Seymour. B.S.A.C.P.)
QSA (4) RoM TH RoL Tr (570 Sjt: G. Seymour. Imp: Lt. Horse)

George Seymour attested for the British South Africa Company Police on 4 March 1890, being assigned the regimental number ‘399’. He served in “E” Troop in the Pioneer Column of 1890, and was discharged on 25 November 1891.

When war broke out again and as an experienced soldier, George found his way into the elite group under the control of Major Karri-Davies in the Imperial Light Horse. Instrumental in the relief of Ladysmith where they disabled two Boer "Long Tom" artillery guns on Gun Hill, and when challenged by a Boer picket, Major Davies bellowed the command "Fix bayonets and charge the buggers" (The Boer War, Thomas Pakenham, pg 271),

It was not long after Sergeant Seymour volunteered and went on with seven others to personally relieve (break) the siege of Mafeking with a gallant charge into the town alongside their fearless leader Major Karri-Davies, thus ending the siege after 217 days. The picture is in relation to a silver salver than was presented to all nine men for their heroics.



BSA Medal and clasp is confirmed in the roll by Colin Owen. Only 112 medals were issued to the British South Africa Company's Police for Mashonaland 1890, including 73 with this single clasp.

QSA confirmed on medal roll with only 209 medals issued with Relief of Mafeking and Relief of Ladysmith clasps.

AUD 7,850. GBP 4,400. R72k.