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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (549 Pte. A. J. Cates, C.I.V.);
KSA (2) (613 Serjt: A. J. Cates. A.P.O. Corps.)

Noonan's say 7 men from the 24th Middlesex (Post Office Rifles) went on to serve with the City Imperial Volunteers.

Albert John Cates was born in Richmond, Surrey on 17 June 1875. A Post Office sorter, he enlisted into the 24th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers (Post Office Rifles) on 4 December 1895 and served with their detachment of just 7 men in South Africa during the Boer War in the Infantry Battalion of the City Imperial Volunteers. The City Press, reporting on 17 January 1900, that Private Cates together with Private J. W. J. Westwood, had been given a farewell dinner at the ‘Royal Mail’ on Noble Street, by the General Post Office sorting staff on 11 January 1900, and that he had been given a pair of field glasses and a purse.

Cates further served in the South African War in the Army Post Office Corps, 1901-1902, qualifying for the King’s South Africa Medal as a Sergeant. Returning to England he was discharged, time expired and re-attested for the Army Post Office Corps (1st Class Army Reserve) at Birmingham on 18 April 1904, serving until discharged, 17 April 1910, in consequence of the termination of his period of engagement. He died in Surrey, England in 1916.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (7) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Belfast (87 Cpl. H. C. Crawhall, C.I.V.)

Hugh Capper Crawhall was born at Nun Monkton, Yorkshire in 1875, the son of the Rev. Septimus Isaac Crawhall, vicar of Stratton St. Margaret. Admitted into the Society of Telegraph-Engineers and Electricians in June 1893, he was based in Victoria Street, S.W. London in 1896 and joined the 14th Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteers the same year. He served with their detachment in South Africa as a Lance-Corporal in No. 2 Company, Mounted Infantry, City Imperial Volunteers.

Crawhall is mentioned in the Record of the Mounted Infantry CIV by Guillem Scott and McDonnell, in connection with an occasion on which he received a bounty of £60 from the Supply Officer in return for bringing in cattle. The same source also reveals him to have held the role of regimental barber.

Verified on WO100/231p233.

Pictures courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (857 Pte. A. Callingham. C.I.V.)

Described as 'A Callingham, of Farnham, Surrey, was one of a reported 24 men of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Queen’s Regiment, to serve in the City Imperial Volunteers (C.I.V.). Originally of ‘H’ (Woking) Company, he died while on active duty during a unusual train accident, reported as followed in the ‘Surrey Advertiser’ of 1 November 1900:'Poor Callingham and another man were sitting on the step of what was known as a ‘native carriage’, and as the train entered Hanover Road Station, the end of the platform caught their feet. They were both pitched onto the platform, and while his companion… escaped with a cut on the knee… Callingham rolled down between the train and the platform and was cut to pieces.’ He is confirmed on the Q.S.A. Medal Roll.'

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (1251 Pte T. A. Orchard. C.I.V.),

Described as being 'struck on a slightly thinner planchet, likely a slightly later issue, lightly toned, extremely fine. Private T. A. Orchard was one of a reported 12 men of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, The Queen’s Regiment, to serve in the City Imperial Volunteers (CIV). He is confirmed on the QSA Medal Roll with clasp entitlement as above.'

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Diamond Hill (859 Pte F. Middleton. C.I.V.), suspension broken at suspension and previously affixed with adhesive;
1914-15 Star (64785 Sjt F. W. Middleton. The Queen’s R.);
British War and Victory Medals (G-64785 Sjt. F. W. Middleton. The Queen’s R.);
Territorial Force Efficiency, E.VII.R. (99 Sjt: F. W. Middleton. 5/R. W. Surrey Regt)

Together with Boer War Commemorative Medal in bronze, three pieces of CIV insignia, and a rare copy of ‘City Press Souvenir of the C.I.V. No.4’ magazine.

Described as 'Sergeant Frederick W Middleton was one of the 24 men of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Queen’s Regiment, to serve in the City of London Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War, as part of ‘F’ (Godalming) Company. Surviving his service in South Africa, he returned to his home in Farncombe to much fanfare, as reported in the ‘Surrey Advertiser’ of 1 November, 1900:‘…Private Middleton returned, alive and well, to his home at Farncombe… He was not, however, allowed to escape a demonstration of the popular feeling of joy at his safe return, for at about seven o’clock… he was intercepted…(and) proceeded to the railway platform at Farncombe Station, where a crowd had assembled… The Godalming Brass Band was stationed outside, and Private Middleton was ‘shouldered’ by his comrades. The young soldier was carried on… to the Public Hall, where Captain the Hon. A. G. Brodrick [see lot 90710-045] and the officers and men of ‘F’ Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, were holding a dinner, at which Middleton was an honoured guest.’He was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal on 1 April 1910, and later re-enlisted for Great War service in 1914 – this time as a Sergeant with the 7th (Service) Battalion, The Queen’s (West Surrey) Regiment. He arrived in France for active service on 27 July 1915, and surviving the war, was placed on Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 20 February 1919.'

Picture courtesy of Warwick and Warwick

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg and Diamond Hill (870 Pte. W. Wells. C.I.V.,)