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Picture courtesy of the London Medal Co

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Private R. McKennon, Kaffarian Rifles)

Almost £500 for this medal.

Ex Bonhams in July 2019 where this QSA and a QSA to Pte Williams, RPR (also for sale at he LMC) sold (including premium) for less than the asking price of this single medal.

Missing its SA01 clasp.

The QSA with Wepener clasp to Captain John Marsh appeared in a Boer War Centenary auction. There is quite a story to this man who started out life as a Sergeant in the South Notts. Hussars who, on arrival in South Africa, were absorbed into Brabant's Horse.

Marsh's QSA is a particularly nice one about which more will be revealed once I have completed my research.

Rory,

A fantastic QSA.

You probably already have this:

1st and 2nd Battalions. Lieutenant 1 February 1900. Transferred to 1st BrH and Captain 1 June 1901. Resigned 31 December 1901. Commandant at Sterkstroom 1 April 1902. He was recommended for an award following an act of gallantry on 3 October 1901 whilst Station Commandant at Sterkstroom, Cape Colony, and in command of local District Mounted Troops and Scouts. He was recommended by Lieutenant Colonel Cumming, KR: 'In action at Haasjes Kraal near Sterkstroom on 3rd October 1901. Hurried out with only 10 scouts to keep 50 Boers under Commandant Pretorius in check until the arrival of a local DMT. During a retirement necessitated by the enemy endeavouring to surround the small party, Capt Marsh under very heavy fire went back and brought out safely two scouts whose horses had stampeded. During this action Commandant Pretorius and one man were killed and on arrival of local DMT the enemy were chased and eventually driven on to a post held by No. 2 DMT at Katberg Pass where 21 were captured with full equipment and horses’. He had initially been recommended to Lieutenant Colonel Cumming by Trooper G R Aspeling in a letter dated 4 January 1902: 'As Captain Marsh is no longer OC Troops here, I now feel at liberty, to personally bring to your notice, an incident which occurred during the skirmish at Hassjes Kraal on the 3rd October 1901. It was no doubt reported to you, that, when we opened fire on the Boers, at about 2000 yards range the enemy seeing our small number, several of them who were hidden in some bushes on our right front, charged us, a number of others making for a ridge on our left flank. However, those that charged us were met with such a warm reception, one being shot within 400 yards of us, that they swerved and made for a rise on our right. Captain Marsh seeing this, immediately gave the order to mount, leaving two of us to continue firing until the men got on their horses. The Boers, seeing this movement, poured in a hot fire on three sides, some of them firing with carbines from their saddles, at very close range. It was at this stage that two of the Scouts horses stampeded, the one being hit, two men being dismounted thereby. I was one of the dismounted men and ran for some distance to try and recover my horse but seeing him run past the Boers, I had to give up the chase. I ran back to where I was before. I may state that we had no cover, the grass being burnt, with only a small ant heap here and there showing. Captain Marsh, who had already ridden off, seeing my predicament, returned and told me to mount behind him. I was very much exhausted from running after my horse and consequently it took some time for me to mount. During this time we were under a rather heavy cross fire from the enemy, some of the Boers being very close to us. As it was through Captain Marsh's gallant act that I escaped death or capture, I think it only right that I should acquaint you, as his immediate chief at the time, with the facts of the case’. QSA (4) issued 3 July 1903. Address: Thornton Hall, Notts

Thank you David - yes I was aware of it - frankly chaps have been awarded VC's for less - the reason advanced for the lack of "reward" for his bravery was that the matter was only brought to the attention of the authorities in 1902.

What might have been heh?

There must have been many such acts during the war? But yes, earlier reporting may have had a very different outcome.

Picture courtesy of Corbitt's

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Pte W. F. Krause Cape Mounted Rifles)
[KSA (2)]

Willem Ferdinand. Enlisted 18 December 1891. Discharged 11 March 1903. CMR ref DD7/62