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Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7342 Serjt: J. Duckworth. Vol: Coy E. Lanc: R.)

John Duckworth was born at St. Peters, Blackburn in 1868 and attested there on 28 February 1900, listing previous service with the Volunteer Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. Posted to South Africa on 23 March 1901 with the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment he was present in a line of blockhouses near Tafel Kop in January 1902. The line was attacked on 6 January and Duckworth was amongst the casualties, shot in the hands during the defence. He is listed upon his service papers as wounded 'Severely, near Tafel Kop 6 Jan 1902'. Surprisingly he continued to serve in South Africa, only leaving the country on 21 June 1902 and being discharged the next day.

Sold for a hammer price of GBP 230. Totals: GBP 285. R 6,480. AUD 530. NZD 570. CAD 480. USD 350. EUR 320.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (Capt. E. A. Daubeny. 1st Bn. E. Lanc: Regt.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (Major A. E. Daubeny, E. Lanc: Regt);
KSA (2) (Major E. A. Daubeny. E. Lanc: Rgt.);
1914-15 Star (Major E. A. Daubeny. E. Lan. R.);
British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. E. A. Daubeny.)

Together with matching miniature group of 6, enamelled ‘flag’ bar, various buttons, lapel badge, two original parchment warrants.

Alfred Daubeny was born on 13 June 1863 at Clifton, Bristol, the tenth and youngest son of Edmund Joseph and Margaret Daubeny. He received his first commission as a Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment (Militia) on 7 April 1883, then taking up a Lieutenancy with the East Lancashire Regiment on 4 November 1884. He served with the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment during the Relief of Chitral in 1895, and continued into the Boer War of 1900-02, leading ‘A’ Company in action during the engagement at Karee, amongst others (‘Red Roses on the Veldt’ by Downham, refers). He was promoted to Captain on 4 June 1900 and received his Brevet Majority on 27 September 1901 as part of various honours awarded to the East Lancashire Regiment after the Boer War.

He retired at the rank of Major on 11 April 1906, but returned to army service some years later in order to assist his old regiment during the Great War in September 1914. He played a crucial role in the formation of the 7th Battalion, serving initially as Second-in-Command in France in 1915, later taking command of the Battalion himself upon the death of Colonel Hilton (as recorded in ‘The History of the East Lancashire Regiment in the Great War 1914-1918’ by Nicholson). On his return to England he was appointed to the Reserve Battalion, South African Infantry, and in 1917 he took command of the Regimental Depot in Preston. He retired for a second time on 6 May 1919, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and died on 23 June 1941 – his ashes scattered in Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol.