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Picture courtesy of DNW

Ashanti Star 1896 (2nd. Lt. B. A. Thompson 2. W. Yorks R.) reverse inscribed in the usual Regimental style;
QSA (0) (Capt. B. A. Thompson, Middx. Rgt.);
1914 Star, with clasp (Major B. A. Thompson. Midd’x R.);
BWM and VM (Lt. Col. B. A. Thompson.)

Bernard Anthony Thompson was born on 14 October 1875, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment on 6 March 1895. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Ashanti campaign, and was promoted Lieutenant on 28 May 1898. He transferred as a Captain to the Middlesex Regiment on 12 October 1901, and served with the 3rd Battalion in St. Helena, guarding Boer prisoners of War. Appointed Adjutant of the 6th Battalion (Special Reserve) on 22 December 1910, he was promoted Major on 4 September 1914.

Thompson served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 November 1914 , and was wounded at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle on 11 March 1915, where the Battalion suffered 8 officers and 70 other ranks killed, 8 officers and 299 other ranks wounded, and 89 missing. “A”, “B”, and “C” Companies were almost completely wiped-out. Evacuated home, Thompson was specially employed at the War Office for the first eight months of 1916, before returning to France on 1 October 1916. Promoted Acting Lieutenant-Colonel on 22 December 1916, he was given the command of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion on 21 February 1917.

Following the cessation of hostilities Thompson transferred to the Reserve of Officers and served as Military Advisor to the Sultan of Johore. He retired on 7 November 1923, and was granted the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Picture courtesy of DNW

Sudan (870. Pte. W. Gray. 2/Bn. Midx. R.);
QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (870 Pte. W. Gray, Middx: Regt.);
KSA (2) (870 Pte. W. Gray. Middlesex Regt.);
Army LS&GC EdVII (870 Pte. W. F. Gray. Middx: Regt.);
Khedive Sudan (1) Khartoum (No. 870 Pte. W. Gray 2nd. Bn. Middlesex Regt.) contemporarily engraved naming

Provenance: J. B. Hayward, October 1975.

Walter Randall was born in Chelsea in 1863 and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Hounslow on 2 January 1894, having previously served in the Regiment’s 3rd (Militia) Battalion. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he was one of four men from the Regiment (Lieutenant Ingle, Sergeant Jack, and Corporal Shelburne) who proceeded on attachment with ‘Headquarters, British Division’ for service in Egypt and the Sudan from 1 July to 5 October 1898, and subsequently served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 2 December 1899 to 15 February 1902. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 234 of 1910, and was discharged on 24 October of that year, after 26 years and 296 days’ service.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) RoL (2738 Sgt. A. Foster, Middx Regt.)

Sgt Foster was killed in action at Spion Kop and is buried there.

He received a posthumous mention for “special and meritorious service” in Lord Roberts’ Despatch of 4 September 1901 (LG 10 September 1901, p5947). As this followed some nineteen months after his death, one can speculate that it was earned at Spion Kop.

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QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (5238 Cpl. G. Cook. Middlesex Regt.) medal detached from suspension;
KSA (2) (5238 Serjt: G. Cook. Middlesex Regt.);
1914 Star (2.Lieut. G. A. Cook. Midd’x R.);
BWM and VM (2.Lieut. G. A. Cook.)

George Albert Cook, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment, who was ‘killed on the 10th March, 1915, while leading his men at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, was born in London, and served in the ranks of the Army for eighteen years. He took part in the South African War for which he received the Queen’s Medal with four clasps (sic) and the King’s Medals with two clasps. He was always a studious man, desirous of improving his position, and was given his commission, as 2nd Lieutenant, in October 1914, while serving at the front. 2nd Lieutenant Cook married Ellen Agnes, daughter of Henry Power, and left two children, Ellen Agnes, aged nine, and George Albert, aged six.’ (The Bond of Sacrifice refers)

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Lieut. P. T. Miller. Middlesex Regt.);
1914-15 Star (Capt. P. T. Miller, R.W. Fus.);
BWM and VM (Capt. P. T. Miller)

Paul Tennant Miller was born on 25 January 1883 and was educated as Marlborough College. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment on 23 November 1901, he served with the 5th Battalion in South Africa during the final stages of the Boer War, before resigning his commission in 1902 and going up to Pembroke College, Cambridge, to read Law.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Miller attested for the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps, and was promptly discharged to a commission as Temporary Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers on 15 October 1914. Promoted Captain, he transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 5 October 1915, and served with the 9th Battalion on the Western Front. At a Medical Board held in January 1917, he was found to have been suffering from shell shock sustained in France on 17 February 1916. He subsequently served at home in 12th Battalion, and later became attached to the Labour Corps. He was awarded Silver War Badge No. B45769 in December 1918, and died at Uckfield, Sussex, in 1931.

Note: The Orange Free State clasp is not confirmed on the medal roll, however a supplementary QSA medal roll indicates entitlement to clasps for Transvaal and South Africa 1902.

The supplementary roll is WO100/195p293 listing Tr and SA02. CC is listed on WO100/195p211.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (6875 Pte. C. Lane. Middx: Regt.) suspension replaced with a non-swivel type, heavy edge bruising and contact marks, therefore good fine

Aubrey Charles Lane was born at Ipswich, Suffolk, and served in 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment at St. Helena during the Boer War, guarding Prisoners of War.