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Pictures courtesy of C&T Auctions

QSA (6) Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal. Impressed naming, (1649: TPR: L. KIRBY S.A.LT HORSE)

Louis Kirby. OFS, LN and Belfast listed on WO100/274p68

At TNA yesterday and in the middle of the box of WO126 SAKH attestation papers was this War Gratuity Certificate. I have not seen one of this before. Discharge certificates do sometimes appear but this is the first of these I have seen.

If it was a certificate to prove the gratuity had been paid, I would have expected it to be signed by the recipient and also retained by the authorities.

Louis Kirby's medal sold for a hammer price of £130 yesterday.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (24234 Tpr: M.Samuels. S.A. Lt Horse). Impressed.

Recorded on nominal roll of South African Light Horse as 23234 Trooper M.Samuels. Discharged 28 June 1901 as time expired.

Sold for a hammer price of Au$240. Totals: £166. R3,200. Au$290. Can$280. US$220

Pictures courtesy of City Coins

KSA (2) (Capt. S.H. Chapin. D.S.O. S.A.L.H.)

Sydney Herbert Chapin was clearly an interesting individual. He was the son of a New York surgeon and is reported to have served as a transport officer on General Buller’s staff during the Anglo Boer War. In his younger days he was purportedly called “Slick Sydney” during his military services. Having been appointed as a Member of the Distinguished Service Order for “meritorious services” on 29 November 1900 this award was revoked towards the end of the Great War (London Gazette, September 24, 1918) – His Majesty the King directing that “his name shall be erased from the Register of the Order.” An earlier Gazette had reporting that he “is dismissed by sentence of a General Court-Martial. 23rd May 1918.”



“Sidney Chapin was born in New York, USA, in 1875. In 1895, Chapin travelled to Rhodesia, where he joined the Matebele Mounted Police. During March 1896, he was attached to Coopes Scouts as part of the Matebele Relief Force. Afterwards, he joined the French Foreign Legion and was sent to Athens, taking part in the Battle of Pharsala. During 1897, he took part in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee with the Rhodesian Forces. Chapin then returned to Rhodesia, where he joined the British South Africa Police. In September 1899, he enlisted in the South African Light Horse as a Trooper and was shortly promoted to Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. After the Relief of Ladysmith, he received a commission as Lieutenant, and four months later, was promoted to Captain. He saw considerable action with the South African Light Horse. He received the Distinguished Service Order and stated in a letter that to the best of his knowledge, he was the first American citizen to receive it. After the Boer War, Chapin became a Sub-Inspector with the Criminal Investigation Department of the South African Government Railways. He next served as Adjutant of the British Contingent with the company that brought General Piet Cronje to the Saint Louis Exposition in 1904. Chapin then took a position with the Department of Immigration in Guatemala. He next served for five years as Assistant Commissioner of Police and Superintendent of Prisons, Gold Coast, West Africa. He was appointed Lieutenant in the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards in 1914 being wounded in September 1915 and promoted Temporary Captain in February 1916. Chapin was then promoted Temporary Major and transferred to the 17th Battalion Liverpool Regiment in December, 1916. He was dismissed from the service after a Court-Martial on May 23 1918. He died in London in September 1952. Major Chapin was Mentioned In Despatches (General Buller's Despatch, June 19, 1900), “S. Chapin has done invaluable service throughout the campaign,” and again (Lord Robert's Dispatch, April 2, 1901), “For meritorious services.” He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, April 19, 1901). Chapin had the Distinguished Service Order revoked (London Gazette, September 24, 1918). He is not listed in the DSO book. Some accounts suggest he was involved in the Jameson Raid but there is no evidence to support this.”

Back in the 1980's I remember buying a QSA and KSA pair to Captain Chapin but on receipt it was obvious that they were renamed so they went back to the dealer. I often wonder what happened to them.