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The trio to Captain Kemble which sold at DNW in December for a hammer price of £550 is now available on eBay for £925.

114717093250

Picture courtesy of Spink

[ MBE ]
QSA (2) Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (18433 Pte. V. C. Soggee, A.S.C.)
[ 1914 Star Trio ]
[ MSM ]

MBE London Gazette 25 May 1956.
MSM London Gazette 1 January 1917.

Valentine Charles Soggee - or 'Val' to his friends and comrades - was born in 1883 at Notting Hill, London. Young Valentine joined the Essex Regiment in 1900, latterly serving with the 7th Hussars, before transferring to the Army Service Corps with whom he served in South Africa during 1902.

In 1906 he attended the Military Tournament (latterly the Royal Tournament) for the first time and married later that year.

Upon the outbreak of the Great War Valentine served in France with the Advance Motor Transport Depot, Royal Army Service Corps from 15 September 1914, earning a brace of 'mentions' (London Gazette 22 June 1915 & 1 January 1916, refer), to go with his MSM and a promotion to Staff Sergeant-Major.

He seems to have maintained an association with the Royal Tournament throughout. In 1930 he was appointed Assistant to the Secretary, being involved with the show's organisation. The Army Service Corps Journal of 1937 gives more detail:

'With him [the Secretary] are two very old friends of the Corps..."Val" Soggee also joined the Staff in 1907 and, continuing until retirement, took up the position of Assistant Chief Clerk from 1930. Soggee is perhaps better remembered for his connection with the Tournament Press arrangements, but of later years his services have been of a more versatile nature, and he continues to be one of the permanent pillars of the show.'

Commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) and advanced Captain (QM) during the Second World War, he does not appear to have served overseas. The Royal Tournament re-started after the war and Valentine continued in his post. Awarded his MBE for his service with the Royal Tournament over a period of some 26 years as a permanent member of the Staff, he was 73 years old. He was quoted in the Evening Standard in June 1956:

'I love the Army and the Tournament and nothing would make me happier than a last-minute decision to let me carry on.'

Valentine died in early 1969 at Lambeth.

From the City Coins auction, 4 November 2022

QSA (3) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (Lieut: J. G. van Bunren, A.S.C.) toned medal, engraved naming
[ KSA (2) ]

City Coins say: Note added to Roll: Driefontein bar added and issued separately 2 September 1903 (not with medal) Temporary rank Lieut attached to A.S.C. as T.O. Sold with copied Roll dated Naauwpoort 31.8.1901 signed by Captain Miller No. 34 A Company A.S.C.

Also entitled to KSA (2) WO100/349p3.

QSA listed on WO100/213p319

From the City Coins auction, 4 November 2022

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (13940 Lce Corl C. N. Pasley, A.S.C.):
KSA (2) (13940 Corpl: C. N. Pasley, A.S.C.)

From the City Coins auction, 4 November 2022

QSA (2) Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (475 Pte V. G. Lewis. A.S.C.);
BWM and AVM (bilingual) (Sjt V. G. Lewis C.A.H.T.C.);
Africa Service Medal (Nrv V. G. Lewis)

Vivian George Lewis attested as a Special Service Clerk in the Army Service Corps on 16 April 1902 and served in South Africa from 26 April 1902 to discharge on 28 February 1903. Member of Abercorn Lodge Johannesburg from 1913 to 1936. A letter dated 1953 to War Records Pretoria enquires about his WWII medal for service as a Private in the Port Shepstone N.R.V. from 26 January 1942 to 23 October 1944, age 60.

Saying goodbye to the Army Service Corps in Aldershot

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/19-ephemera/3...under-the-union-jack