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Picture courtesy of Warwick and Warwick

BSACM reverse Matabeleland 1893 (1964 Corpl A.J. Green B.B. Police)
QSA (3) OFS DoM Tr renamed in official style to 58 Tpr A.J. Green Prot Rgt

With copied rolls and correspondence with South African researcher, clasps confirmed

From the next Spink sale:

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Defence of Mafeking, Transvaal (343 Corpl: A. Day. Protect: Regt. F.F.), nearly extremely fine £1,200-1,500

Arthur Day served with ‘B’ Squadron of the Protectorate Regiment Frontier Force and was present at the Defence of Mafeking. He was likely among those men led by Captain Charles FitzClarence on a daring rescue mission which contributed to the latter’s affectionate nickname of the ‘The Demon of Mafeking’ (Lord Ashcroft’s “Hero of the Month”, Brigadier-General Charles FitzClarence, refers).
The citation for the V.C. to FitzClarence takes up the story:

‘On the 14th October, 1899, Captain FitzClarence went with his squadron of the Protectorate Regiment, consisting of only partially trained men, who had never been in action, to the assistance of an armoured train which had gone out from Mafeking. The enemy were in greatly superior numbers, and the squadron was for a time surrounded, and it looked as if nothing could save them from being shot down. Captain FitzClarence, however, by his personal coolness and courage inspired the greatest confidence in his men, and, by his bold and efficient handling of them, not only succeeded in relieving the armoured train, but inflicted a heavy defeat on the Boers, who lost 50 killed and a large number wounded, his own losses being 2 killed and 15 wounded. The moral effect of this blow had a very important bearing on subsequent encounters with the Boers.

On the 27th October, 1899, Captain FitzClarence led his squadron from Mafeking across the open, and made a night attack with the bayonet on one of the enemy’s trenches. A hand-to-hand fight took place in the trench, while a heavy fire was concentrated on it from the rear. The enemy was driven out with heavy loss. Captain FitzClarence was the first man into the position and accounted for four of the enemy with his sword. The British lost 6 killed and 9 wounded. Captain FitzClarence was himself slightly wounded. With reference to these two actions, Major-General Baden-Powell states that had this Officer not shown an extraordinary spirit and fearlessness the attacks would have been failures, and we should have suffered heavy loss both in men and prestige.’

The renamed DoM pair to A J Green is being re-offered by Warwick and Warwick at their next auction.

Estimated Price: £625 + 20% BP + VAT where applicable

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (3) Orange Free State, Defence of Mafeking, Transvaal (200 Tpr: D. Magee. Protect: Regt. F.F.);
KSA (2) (Scout D. Magee. F.I.D.)

David Magee served with the Protectorate Regiment throughout the siege of Mafeking, and was discharged in October 1900. He subsequently re-enlisted in the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, in which unit he received promotion to Corporal, and thereafter with the Field intelligence Department.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (3) Orange Free State, Defence of Mafeking, Transvaal (227 Tpr: L. West. Prot: Rgt:)

Lionel West. Enlisted PRFF 23 October 1900. Aged 19. Trade: Bricklayer. Nationality: English. NOK: Mother, c/o Mrs Bernard, Victoria Ground, King William's Town. Served in D Squadron. Discharged 20 October 1900. Character very good. Address after discharge: c/o Mr Cooper, St John's Road, East London. Also served GFC (Trooper) 12 January to 31 March 1901.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) DoM (224 Corpl: N.J. Walsh, Protectorate Regt.)
The medal has been skimmed and officially re-impressed and has one minor e/k at 5 o’clock.

Nicholas John Walsh enlisted on 18 Aug 1899 as Trooper in the Protectorate Regiment. He was with Fitzclarence in D Squadron in the Armoured Train skirmish and killed at an early stage.

“Fitzclarence’s party dismounted short of the train and left their horses behind a cluster of deserted Barolong huts. As Fitzclarence advanced the Boers fell back. Spurred on by the ease with which the Boers were being driven off, he sped up.

The Boers, unbeknown to Fitzclarence, were sucking him into a trap.

They were manoeuvring in such a way that Fitzclarence was brought between them and the train thus cutting off the fire from Williams, who feared hitting British soldiers.

The Boers were now able to concentrate their fire on Fitzclarence.

Particularly effective were Boer snipers concealed in the branches of trees scattered round the Boer position. First to fall, shot through their heads, were two Irish cousins, Corporals Parland and Walshe...”
“The Boy” by Hopkins & Dugmore (p 84).