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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Sudan (1042. Pte. W. Baker. 2/R. Bde:);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek (1042 Pte. W. Baker, Rifle Brigade);
KSA (2) South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1042 Pte. W. Baker, Rifle Brigade);
Khedive’s Sudan (1) Khartoum (1042. Pte. W. Baker 2nd Battn Rifle Brigade Soudan Campgn 1898)

Private W Baker was wounded at Ladysmith on 27 February 1900.

Picture courtesy of JB Military Antiques

Sudan, period engraved (4885 PTE C. PEARCE. 2/R BDE.);
Khedive's Sudan, unnamed as issued;
QSA (3) DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, LAINGS NEK, BELFAST, impressed named (4885 PTE C. PEARCE. RIFLE BRIGADE.);
KSA (2) (4885 PTE C. PEARCE. RIFLE 92 BRIGADE.);
1914 - 15 Star, impressed named (753 PTE C. PEARCE. 28/BN. A.I.F.);
British War and Victory Medals, impressed named (753 T/W.O.2. C PEARCE 28 BN. A.I.F.)

Together with Gallipoli Medallion (1967), named C Pearce.; Rifle Brigade black buttons and collar badge; original British Army Soldiers Handbook, Rifle Brigade handbook, service certificate, uniform photographs with medals (3), marriage certificate, A.I.F. discharge certificate and copy WW1 service documents, medal rolls etc.

Warrant Officer Class Charles Pearce was born in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, England in 1879. He enlisted into the Rifle Brigade on 18/1/1897 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, with whom he served for the next 15 years. He served in Malta 1897 – 1898, being deployed to Egypt 12/7/1898 – 20/9/1898, where the 2nd Battalion fought at the famous Battle of Omdurman, with medal noted in his original record as ‘granted by H.M. Queen 1898’. The battalion then deployed to Crete in the aftermath of the uprising and murder of British soldiers and over 1,000 local Christians serving there from 21/9/1898 – 1/10/1899.

On the outbreak of the war in South Africa, he served there from 2/10/99 – 24/9/1902, including at the Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek and Belfast. At the conclusion of the war and having spent nearly three years in country, they were posted to garrison Egypt 25/9/1902 – 23/10/1905, where he obtained his ‘Mounted Infantry’ certificate.

On returning home he was posted to the Depot and the Reserve Battalion over Christmas 1905/6 before returning to his old battalion who were now stationed in India. He served in India until taking his discharge in Rawalpindi in August 1912.

He emigrated to Western Australia and was working as a labourer in Guildford when he enlisted into ‘B’ Company 28th Battalion on 15/3/1915. He departed Australia on 29/6/1915 bound for Egypt and then onto Gallipoli, landing at Anzac Cove in early September. He remained at Gallipoli until the evacuation, returning to Alexandria 4/1/1916. He deployed to France with the battalion in March 1916, being promoted to Corporal the same day, only to be transferred to the 6th Field Company (Engineers) from 18/7/1916 – 18/8/1916 as Acting C.S.M. He reverted to Corporal on posting to 2nd Division Signalling Company on 18/8/1916. For the remainder of the war, he occupied either a training roll or was posted to Divisional and Corps level signalling positions in England and France. He returned to Australia for discharge in April 1919.

Post war he returned to W.A., working in the dairy industry in Kirup, where he remained until his death in June 1941 of tuberculosis. A period newspaper shows a photo of Charles in hospital, with the pen inscription ‘Uncle Charlie’, from his niece. Vendor states these were purchased directly from the family.

'Good old 'Sweeps'
Officers of the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade'

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/19-ephemera/3...the-union-jack#93318

Picture courtesy of C and T Auctions

QSA (2) Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, engraved naming (5718 PTE H PIESLEY RIFLE BDE);
KSA (2), impressed naming (5718 PTE. H. PIESLEY RIFLE BRIGADE);
BWM (20467 PTE. H. PIESLEY OXF. & BUCKS L.I.

Described as: Medals and clasps confirmed on the relevant rolls and British War medal is confirmed as his full entitlement for the Great War. Change of service number is confirmed on his service records. Henry Piesley, an 18 year old groom from Hammersmith, London, attested for service in the Rifle Brigade on 2nd April 1898. He was discharged to class B reserve on 1st April 1910 on termination of his period of engagement. During the Great War he served with the 1st Garrison Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in India from October 1916 to November 1919 and was discharged to Class Reserve the following month.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (263 Pte. J. Jefferies, Rifle Brigade.);
KSA (2) (263 Pte. J. Jeffries [sic]. Rifle Brigade.);
Imperial Service Medal, GV, Circular issue, 1st ‘coinage head’ issue (Joseph Sidney Jefferies.)

Joseph Sidney Jefferies attested for the Rifle Brigade, and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War. He was severely wounded at Grootvlei on 26 December 1900, whilst serving with ‘F’ Company, under Captain C. Radclyffe.

The Rifle Brigade at Grootvlei
After a quiet Christmas based at the Oceana Mine near Grootvlei, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Colville, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, proceeded on a farm-clearing expedition, with a small column consisting of six companies of the 1st Battalion, a squadron of the 13th Hussars, four guns of 63 Battery, Royal Field Artillery, as well as one ‘pom-pom’. Colville left ‘F’ Company under the command of Captain Radclyffe, as well as some artillerymen, to guard the baggage wagons based at the mine. The column moved out in the direction of Roddewal, where after five miles they became involved in a small skirmish at the first of the target farms. During the skirmish a large party of approximately 450 Boers were spotted heading towards the Oceana Mine. A signal was sent to Captain Radclyffe informing him of this development, and he at once set about disposing his small force in an attempt to protect the baggage, with the pom-pom located near a small hollow. After a couple of hours had passed a number of mounted Boers appeared on a ridge a thousand yards away. As Radclyffe’s men opened fire the Boers dismounted, pushed forward, and sent out small parties to the left and right in an encircling movement against the Rifle Brigade position. Under heavy and accurate fire the pom-pom was moved down towards the hollow and back towards the compound – of the nine men who assisted in moving the pom-pom one was killed and the other eight all wounded.

Seeing that the enemy were now advancing in considerable force, Radclyffe decided to send the baggage back to the column, whilst attempting to hold the Boers in check for as long as possible. Under cover of heavy Rifle Brigade fire from behind the wagons, the native teams began inspanning the oxen. When they were ready to move the native teams started off the wagons in the direction of Colville’s column and, as they did so, the small Rifle Brigade covering party came under very severe fire and had to retire, as the Boers saw that they were losing their target. During this time, Radclyffe and his sections continued their holding action but suffered a number of casualties, with their ammunition running out fast. With the baggage now well on its way, Radclyffe, who was lying wounded, ordered those in advanced positions who could do so to retire to the compound so as to avoid capture. No. 1 section provided covering fire until their ammunition ran out, at which point the Boers advanced rapidly, forcing their surrender, along with the wounded soldiers. Fortunately, at this point, the main column appeared on the horizon, forcing the Boers to withdraw, leaving their wounded prisoners behind. For some time the wounded on the ridge were exposed to fire from both the returning column and the Boers, and a corporal was seen to make a valiant attempt to carry the wounded Radclyffe to safety. Total losses that day were heavy, with 13 Officers and men killed, 44 wounded, and 19 taken prisoner. For his gallantry in defending the position, Captain Radclyffe was awarded the D.S.O. (article in the O.M.R.S. Journal, Winter 1995 refers.)

Discharged, Jefferies saw further service during the Great War, initially with the 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons) in the Egyptian theatre of War from 5 November 1914, and then at the Rifle Brigade Depot, being awarded a Silver War Badge.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4053. A/Cpl. A. Bates. 2/R. Bde:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (4053 Cpl. A. Bates, Rifle Brigade); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (4053. A/Cpl. A. Bates. 2/R. Bde:) contact marks, otherwise very fine (3)

Albert James Bates attested for the Rifle Brigade and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, being wounded at Colenso on 6 January 1900. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 1 April 1914 and served during the Great War on the Western Front as a Company Sergeant-Major with the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade from 23 August 1914, being slightly wounded, after three days, on 26 August 1914 (most likely at the battle of Le Cateau).

Bates’s Regimental conduct sheet states: ‘certified no entry of offences; discharged in Winchester on 5 February 1919, termination of his second period of engagement, aged 43 and 2 months, having served 23 years and 112 days. Military character exemplary.’

Can anyone spot the issue......