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IGS 1854 (1) Burma 1885-7 (1250. Corp: W. T. Sillence. 2/Hamps: R.);
QSA (0) (1250 Cr:- Sjt: W. T. Sillence. Vol: Coy. Hants: Regt.);
Army LS&GC 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1250 Clr:- Serjt: W. T. Sillence. Hamps: Regt.)

William Thomas Sillence was born on 22 July 1862 and attested for the Hampshire Regiment on 24 November 1883. He was promoted Corporal on 18 June 1885; Sergeant on 17 January 1889; and Colour Sergeant on 23 April 1894, and served with the 2nd Battalion overseas in India and Burma, and with the Volunteer Company in South Africa during the Boer War from 8 March to 31 July 1902 (entitled to the clasps Transvaal and South Africa 1902 to his Queen’s South Africa Medal - such clasps were issued loose to the Volunteer Company).

He was discharged on 23 November 1904, after 21 years’ service, and died in Portsmouth on 20 January 1944; his occupation on his death certificate stating ‘Pensioned Colour Sergeant, Hampshire Regiment, and Pensioned Civilian Clerk, Royal Army Ordnance Corps’.

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DCM GV (10575 Sjt: W. A. Taylor. 8/Bord: R.);
QSA (3) (5144 Dr. W. Taylor, 2nd Hampshire Regt.);
KSA (2) (5144 Dmr: W. Taylor. Hampshire Regt.);
1914 Star (10575 Pte. W. A. Taylor. Bord: R.);
British War and Victory Medals (10575 Sjt. W. A. Taylor. Bord. R.);
Army LS&GC GV 1st issue (345492 Sjt. W. A. Taylor. R.A.F.)

From the collection of Long Service Medals formed by John Tamplin, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008.

DCM London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of stretchers. Hearing that all his company officers and senior N.C.O’s. were down he left his job and went forward to take charge of the company at great personal danger, passing through a heavy barrage. He took charge of the remainder of the company, collected stragglers, organized them into bombing and Lewis gun sections, with the result that when another came he found all the work had been done. During lulls he produced a piccolo, and by playing popular airs cheered and put new spirit into his men’.
Regimental History confirms award for Vaulx Wood, 21-22 March 1918.

William A. Taylor served as a Drummer in the 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment during the Boer War. He served in France with the 2nd Border Regiment from 5 October 1914, and won the DCM whilst serving as a Sergeant with the 8th Battalion, Border Regiment. He subsequently served in the Royal Air Force and was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. through Army Order 388 of October 1924, one of only eight such awards given to the RAF.

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DCM GV (5756 C.S. Mjr: E. S. Ralfs. 1/Hamps: R.);
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (5756 Corpl: E. Ralfs. Hampshire Regt.);
BWM and VM (5756 W.O. Cl.2. E. S. Ralfs. Hamps. R.);
Army LS&GC GV 1st issue (5756 C.S. Mjr: E. S. Ralfe. Hants: R.) suspension claw of QSA re-riveted, contact marks throughout and edge bruising to QSA

DCM LG 12 March 1919; citation published 2 December 1919: ‘For marked gallantry, initiative and skilful leadership. At Monchaux on 24 October 1918, he was among the first to reach the river; here, under heavy machine-gun fire, he assisted in the attempt to bridge the river. When this proved unsuccessful, he collected a party, and running down the bank, came across an old bridge wired up. He rushed across, followed by his men, knocked out a machine-gun post, and formed a bridgehead which enabled the remainder of his company to cross. He did fine work.’

Ernest Samuel Ralfs was born in 1877 and attested for the Hampshire Regiment in 1899, serving with them in both the Boer War and with the 1st Battalion in the Great War (not entitled to a Star). He was badly gassed in France, and for his gallantry at Monchaux on 24 October 1918 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1918, he was discharged in 1920, after 21 years’ service, and subsequently served with the Royal Irish Constabulary in Ireland during the Irish Rebellion with the rank of Sergeant. Re-enlisting in the Hampshire Regiment in 1923, he was appointed Instructor to the Cowes Company, Princess Beatrice’s Isle of Wight Rifles.

He died on 10 August 1936.

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QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (190 Pte. E. O. King, 2nd. Hampshire Regt.);
Defence Medal;
MSM GV (380802 S. Mjr. E. O. King. 17/Hamps: R.);
ISM GV, Circular issue, 2nd ‘Coronation robes’ issue (Ernest Otto King);
TFEM GV (284 C. Sjt: E. O. King. 5/Hants: Regt.)

Ernest Otto King was born in Southampton on 6 July 1876 and joined the Post Office as a temporary Postman on 30 August 1896, being confirmed as Town Postman on 4 November of that year. He attested for the Hampshire Regiment for the duration of hostilities at Winchester on 24 January 1900, having previously served in the Regiment’s 2nd Volunteer Battalion, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 11 May 1900 to 17 May 1901. He was one of the Volunteers who received the Freedom of the Borough of Southampton on 10 October 1900, and was discharged on 24 May 1901, resuming his employment as a Postman.

King was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 8 of January 1914, whilst serving with the 5th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, and served with the Hampshire Regiment throughout the Great War, from 4 August 1914 to 14 February 1919. Advanced Warrant Officer Class II in 1915, and Warrant Officer Class I in 1917, for his services at home with the 17th Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (LG 22 February 1919). King joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in November 1920, and as promoted Lieutenant in 1922. Advanced Captain, he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement from the Post Office on his 60th birthday (LG 4 September 1936).

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QSA (3) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (3185 Sejt. H. Perrett, 2: Hampshire Regt.);
KSA (2) (3185 Cr:-Serjt: H. Perrett. Hampshire Regt.)

Henry Thomas Perrett was born in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1872 and attested there for the Hampshire Regiment on 7 August 1890, having previously served with the Regiment’s 3rd (Militia) Battalion. He was advanced Sergeant on 22 October 1898, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 4 January 1900 to 28 September 1902, being advanced Colour Sergeant on 24 January 1902.

For his services during the Boer War he was Mentioned in Lord Robert’s Despatch of 4 September 1901 (LG 10 September 1901).

Perrett was posted to the Permanent Staff of the 3rd Battalion on 16 April 1903, and was discharged on 6 October 1906, after 16 years and 61 days’ service. He died in October 1909.

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QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, top lugs removed (No. 6 Drummer F. Tuck, 2nd. Batt. Hampshire Regt.);
BWM and VM (280014 A. C. Sjt. F. Tuck. Hamps. R.);
TFWM (122 Sjt. F. Tuck. Hamps. R.);
TFEM GV, with two Additional Award Bars (No. 122. Cpl. F. Tuck. 6th. Batt. Hampshire Regt. T.F.)

Frederick Tuck was born in Portsmouth in 1881 and attested for the Hampshire Regiment at Fort Gomer on 15 January 1900, having previously served in the Regiment’s 3rd Volunteer Battalion. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 11 February 1900 to 17 May 1901, and was discharged on 24 May 1901, after 1 year and 130 days’ service.

Subsequently joining the Territorial Forces, Tuck was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 7 of January 1909 (although given the fact that the medal in the lot is a George V issue presumably he was not actually issued his medal until some years later), and was awarded a first Additional Award Bar per Army Order 192 of May 1922, and a second Additional Award Bar per Army Order 155 of August 1931.

He served with the 1st/6th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment during the Great War from 11 September 1917, with the rank of Acting Colour Sergeant.