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Picture courtesy of DNW

IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (3942 Pte. E. Baxter 2d. Bn. Ryl. Suss. Regt.);
QSA (3) Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (3942 Pte. E. Baxter. Rl: Sussex Regt.)

Edward Baxter was born in London in 1873 and attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester on 11 February 1892, having previously served in the Regiment’s 3rd (Militia) Battalion. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India from 27 November 1893 to 13 February 1902, taking part in the Tirah Expedition 1897-98; and saw further service in South Africa during the Boer War from 14 February to 15 September 1902.

He transferred to the Army Reserve on 29 April 1903, and was discharged on 10 February 1904, after 12 years’ service.

Can anyone help me out here? The London Medal Co are offering this group for £900. What am I missing?


Picture courtesy of the London Medal Co

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State; (5176 PTE H. JONES. 1: R. SUSSEX REGT.);
KSA (2) (5176 PTE. H. JONES. RL: SUSSEX REGT);
1914 Star; (5176 SJT H. JONES. 2/R.SUSS:R.);
British War Medal and Victory Medal; (5176 SJT. H. JONES. R.SUSS.R.);
Army LS&GC (5176 SJT: H. JONES. R.SUSS: REGT.)

Condition: heavy edge bruise on second, overall Good Very Fine.

Henry Jones saw service as a Private (No.5176) with the 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment during the Boer War in South Africa on operations in the Cape Colony and Orange Free State. A long serving regular soldier, with the outbreak of the Great War, as a Sergeant with the 2nd Battalion, he saw service out on the Western Front from 12th August 1914. Jones later transferred as a Sergeant (No.704124) to the Labour Corps.

David
Blowed if I know! Pte H.Jones of the Royal Sussex does not appear in the Casualty roll for 1899-1902 (for which I assume he was relieved) and long service appears to be the only fairly distinguishing feature of the group. I would never consider talking down infantry service during the Boer War or on the Western Front - or anywhere else for that matter; however perhaps there is a core of well-heeled collectors to the Rl. Sussex Regiment out there who might bite?
I never understood the rationale behind UK dealer medal group pricings, anyway.
Best regards
IL.

Picture courtesy of DNW

IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (3321 Sergt. W. G. Kemp. 2d. Bn. Ryl. Suss: Regt.);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (3321 Sgt. W. G. Kemp, 1st. Rl. Sussex Regt.);
KSA (2) South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3321 Serjt: W. Kemp. Rl: Sussex Regt.);
British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. Kemp.);
IGS 1908 (1) Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Captn. W. G. J. Kemp. 41/ Mule Corps.);
MSM GV (Actg. Sgt. Maj. W. G. J. Kemp. I.U.L.);
Army LS&GC EdVII (1st. Cl: Sergt. Instr. W. G. Kemp E.B. Voltr. Rfls.) i

William George John Kemp was born in Ticehurst, Sussex, on 26 March 1871 and attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester on 14 November 1889, having previously served in the Regiment’s 3rd (Militia) Battalion. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he was advanced Lance Sergeant on 19 November 1894, before transferring to the 2nd Battalion, for service in India, on 14 February 1896. He served in India from that date, and was promoted Sergeant on 4 April 1896, subsequently seeing active service on the Punjab Frontier during the Tirah campaign. Returning home on 7 October 1898, Kemp reverted to the 1st Battalion on that date, and served with them in Malta and then in South Africa during the Boer War from 19 February 1900 to 16 October 1902. He was promoted Colour Sergeant on 20 September 1902, before transferring to the Unattached List for employment as 2nd Class Sergeant Instructor of the Agra Volunteer Rifles.

Kemp was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 14 November 1907, whilst serving as 1st Class Sergeant Instructor of the Eastern Bengal Volunteer Rifles, and was discharged in the rank of Acting Sergeant Major on 27 April 1912, after 22 years and 166 days’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Kemp was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers on 18 October 1916, and served during the Great War as Commandant of the 27th Mule Corps, Supply and Transport Corps, Indian Army from 6 January to 21 November 1917, and then as Commandant of the 41st Mule Corps from 22 November 1917. Advanced Acting Captain on 1 October 1918, he saw active service on the North West Frontier during the Third Afghan War, before being released from Military Services on 2 May 1921.

Picture courtesy of DNW

IGS 1854 (1) Burma 1887-89 (121 Sub-Condt. W. R. Syer, Indian Ord.) unit officially corrected;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, last clasp a tailor’s copy (5558 Sgt. W. R. Syer, 1st. Rl. Sussex Regt.);
KSA (2) (5558 Serjt: W. R. Syer. Rl: Sussex Regt.);
Army LS&GC EdVII (7557 Sjt: Tlr. W. R. Syer. Hants: Regt.);
MSM GVI 1st issue (7557 Sjt. W. R. Syer. Hamps. R.)

William Robert Syer was born in Stowmarket, Suffolk, in 1868 and having served with the Indian Ordnance Department attested for the Liverpool Regiment at Shorncliffe on 11 August 1891. He transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment as Sergeant Master Tailor on 9 April 1898, and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 20 February 1900 to 15 May 1902.

He transferred to the Hampshire Regiment in the same appointment on 31 August 1905, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 73 of April 1910, He was discharged due to sickness on 26 February 1917, after 25 years and 200 days’ service, having served throughout the Great War at home, and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal per Army Order 103 of 1945.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (1) Orange Free State (6613 Pte. A. F. Bailey. Rl: Sussex Regt.), clasp privately affixed.

Arthur Frederick Bailey was born at Hastings in 1883 and was a plumber's mate when he joined the Royal Sussex Regiment in March 1901. He was posted, on attachment, to the 3rd Battalion on St Helena guarding Boer Prisoners (Medal without clasp). Having been discharged on 14 October 1913, it appears he re-enlisted (No. LSR/2001) and served with the 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment as a Lance-Corporal. Bailey was killed in action on the Somme on 7 July 1916 and is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial.