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QSA (1) Talana (5507 Private J. Butler - 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers)

John Butler, born St Peters, Dublin and joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1895 Aged 18 years

Prisoner Of War on 30/10/1899 at Nicholson's Nek.

Pictures courtesy of eBay

The casualty roll says that F Hamilton was taken prison at Ladysmith on 6 Jan 1900 but this is his correct clasp entitlement. This is often the combination seen to those men of the 18th Hussars taken prisoner at Talana.


Picture courtesy of the Medal Centre

In the next Spink sale is this lot:

QSA (5) Tal DoL OFS Ln Belf (7571 Pte. J. Hay. K.R.R.C.),
KSA (erased).

There is no picture.

J. Hay served with the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps during the Boer War and was wounded at Wagon Hill on 6 January 1900.

The estimate is £70-£90. An accurate estimate for 1978 perhaps but not these days as we discussed 4 month ago. I did query the estimate for a Talana QSA that appeared in the last catalogue and which was similarly estimated. The QSA was also similar, bring a 6 clasp medal to the KRRC (7176 Pte. H. Fleming. K.R.R.C.). Marcus said Spink wanted to be conservative. They certainly were. The QSA sold for a hammer price of £400. This QSA to Pte Hay is likely to go higher still given his role on 6th January.

Picture courtesy of Spink

I don't know who is cataloguing for Spink but there are several errors in the latest catalogue.

This group clearly has KSA (1) but the write-up says he received KSA (2). KSA (1) is verified on WO100/369p364.

IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (7204 Lce. Corpl. J. Cam, 1st Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps);
QSA (5) Tal DoL Tr LN OFS (7204 Serjt. J. Cam, K.R.R.C.), last clasp unofficially riveted;
KSA (1) SA02 (7204 Serjt. J. Cam, King's Rl. Rif.);
Delhi Durbar 1911, regimentally impressed naming, '7204 C./S. Cam, K.R.R.C.';
Army LS^GC EdVII (7204 C. Sjt. J. Cam, K.R.R.C.)

Joseph Cam enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps at Sheffield, Yorkshire in March 1892, aged 21 years. Posted to the 1st Battalion in India in December 1893, he was subsequently present as a Lance-Corporal in the relief of Chitral operations (Medal & clasp).

Having then been advanced to Corporal in January 1897, he was embarked for South Africa in May 1899 and quickly saw action at Talana and in the defence of Ladysmith. He was afterwards employed in operations in Transvaal and the Orange Free State, but he was invalided home after being hit in the left leg by a mauser bullet at Amersfoort on 7 August 1900. In the following year, and having joined the 4th Battalion as a Sergeant, he returned to South Africa, but he broke his leg jumping off a runaway wagon. He was admitted to hospital at Harrismith and invalided home (Queen's Medal & 5 clasps; King's Medal & 2 clasps).

Cam was appointed an Orderly Room Colour-Sergeant in July 1903 and went on to serve in India in the period December 1909 to March 1914. He was recommended for his L.S. & G.C. Medal in July 1910 and was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal in the following year. He took his discharge on returning to the U.K., having recently been advanced to Orderly Room Q.M. Sergeant.