TOPIC:

Spink sold the IGS to the Talana casualty, Pte Chown, for a hammer price of £250 just now.

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (7157 Pte. W. Chown 1st. Bn.
K. R. Rifle Corps.), nearly extremely fine £120-150

William Chown survived the wreck of the Warren Hastings which ran aground on the coastline of Réunion in the Indian Ocean on 14 January 1897. He was later killed in action at Dundee on 20 October 1899 in the first Battle of the Boer War, when a force of 4000 British troops attempted to storm Talana Hill. The British marked the Battle as a victory, but it was only a temporary reprieve from the inexorable Boer invasion of northern Natal and the British retreat into Ladysmith. British infantry casualties amounted to 51 killed and 203 wounded; sold with an erased Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Talana.

I don't know if it bodes well for the sale this morning but I thought there were some low prices achieved yesterday.

As an example:

IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (1180 Pte. - R. Summerton 1st. Bn. K. R. Rifle Corps);
QSA (6) Cape Colony, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing's Nek, Belfast (1180 Serjt: W. R. Summerton. K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (1180 Serjt: W. R. Summerton. K.R.R.C.)

William Robert Summerton was born on 22 April 1868 at Fort William, Calcutta, India, the son of Lance-Corporal William James Summerton, 2nd Battalion, 60th Rifles. Attesting for the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, at Winchester on 13 August 1883, Summerton saw extensive service in India and Mauritius before serving in South Africa from 22 March 1899-21 September 1902. Later posted to Malta and Egypt, he was discharged at Cairo on 4 April 1906, the 1911 census noting him as a worker for the Corps of Commissionaires and living at 72 The Grove, Wandsworth, London. Summerton died in Southwark on 7 April 1949 as a result of myocardial degeneration.

Sold £280

Perhaps surprisingly, this pair to the Leicesters sold for the same price, £280, but still lower than we would expect for a Talana pair.

QSA (4) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing's Nek, Belfast (4053 Pte. A. Smith, 1: Leic: Regt.);
KSA (2) (4053 Pte. A. Smith. Leicester: Regt.)

Alfred Smith was born in 1874 at Loughton, Leicestershire, and attested for the Leicestershire Regiment having initially served in the Militia, on 2 May 1894. A groom by trade, he was posted to South Africa from 2 January 1896 -11 October 1900, later returning home and serving in the Reserve before discharge on 1 May 1910.

Two Talana QSAs from the next Warwick and Warwick sale

QSA (4) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing's Nek, Belfast (4770 Pte H. Bryan 1 Leic Regt)
KSA (2) (4770 Pte H. Bryan 1 Leic Regt)
1914-15 Star trio to (SS-20216 A.S.C.)

With 4 copied pages of service record and MIC, Harry Bryan was born in Leicester, enlisted 3/9/96, discharged 2/9/08, landed Egypt 15/11/15.

QSA (3) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith (this is a copy), OFS (92760 Dvr H. Hayward 13/Bty R.F.A.) 13 officially re-named

Casualty roll shows he was reported missing and released POW at Battle of Talana Hill 20/10/99 (casualty roll shows Dundee). With 8 copied pages of service record, roll and research, Henry Hayward was born in Holloway, enlisted 10/9/92 in 2nd Bty, transferred to 13th Bty 8/10/92, suffered horse kick to head 22/6/94, roll marked to England as non-combatant under Geneva Convention 6/5/00, granted furlo to join SAC 25/3/01, served South Africa with E Division SAC 26/4/01 to 25/2/03, discharged from AR 10/11/08. Does not appear to be entitled to Defence of Ladysmith clasp and also issued KSA with SAC.

Picture courtesy of the London Medal Co

QSA (4) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast; (2915 SEJT. T. WRIGHT, 1: LEIC: REGT.);
KSA (2) (2915 SERJT: T. WRIGHT. LEICESTER: REGT);
Army LS&G Ed VII (2915 C.SJT: T. WRIGHT. LEIC: REGT.)

Thomas Wright was born in Hickley, Leicestershire, and having worked as a shoe finisher, then attested for service with the British Army at Leicester on 11th December 1890, joining as a Private (No.2915) the Leicestershire Regiment. Appointed a Lance Corporal with the 2nd Battalion on 8th June 1892, he was tried, convicted and reduced to Private for conduct prejudice to good order and sentenced to 14 days hard labour and imprisonment on 25th May 1893, though the sentence was immediately reduced to 7 days. Released back to his unit and returned to duty on 1st June 1893, he was appointed to Lance Corporal again on 18th October 1894, and promoted to Corporal on 4th April 1896.

Transferring to the 1st Battalion out in South Africa on 24th December 1898, he was promoted to Lance Sergeant on 30th March 1899, and was serving in South Africa on the outbreak of the war. As such he was present in action at the battle of Talana on 20th October 1899, before being present during the defence of Ladysmith from 3rd November 1899 through to 28th February 1900. Promoted to Sergeant during the siege on 20th February 1900, Wright was later present in action at Laing’s Nek from 2nd to 9th June 1900, and at Belfast on 26th to 27th August 1900.

Posted to India on 7th November 1902, he was appointed the Regimental Sergeant Instructor in fencing and gymnastics on 3rd December 1902, and was promoted to Colour Sergeant on 8th May 1906, being posted home on 10th November 1906. Transferred to the Depot on 15th March 1907, he then transferred back to the 1st Battalion on 12th October 1909, and in the same month, was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in Army Order No.270 of October 1910, and was eventually discharged on 10th December 1911.

Having then gone to work as a gymnastics instructor and living in Farncombe, Surrey, with the outbreak of the Great War, Wright then attested for short service for the duration of the war at Aldershot on 15th April 1915, and joining as a Private (No.124) the Army Gymnastics Staff. Promoted to Company Sergeant Major and Warrant Officer 2nd Class on the same date, he was discharged medically unfit on 7th December 1917 having seen home service throughout. Wright latterly lived in Farncombe near Godalming, Surrey, and died on 29th December 1949.

Picture courtesy of the London Medal Co

QSA (5) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek; (89458 GNR: J.H. STATHAM, 69: B. R.F.A.);
KSA (2) (89458 GNR: J.H. STATHAM. R.F.A.),

Mounted swing style as worn on an attractive silver mounting bar which is engraved: ‘South Africa 1899 to 1902’.

Together with a photograph of the recipient in uniform, this a studio portrait taken by the photographer Whitlock of Birmingham.

John Henry Statham was born in Tenbury Wells, Herefordshire, now Worcestershire, and having worked as a labourer, then attested for service with the British Army at Birmingham on 18th March 1892, and being posted as a Gunner (No.89458) to the Depot of the Royal Field Artillery, and was then posted for service with the 69th Field Battery from 12th April 1892. Statham was the posted with his battery to South Africa on 13th May 1897. As such Statham was out in South Africa on the outbreak of the Boer War in October 1899.

Statham was present as a Sergeant with the 69th Field Battery at the Battle of Talana on 20th October 1899, when his battery was one of three present. Having then taken part in his battery’s engagement at Lombard’s Top on 30th October 1899, when, along with the 21st Battery, they were sent to support General French and gave most valuable service, he was then present during the defence of Ladysmith from 3rd November 1899 through to 28th February 1900. After the relief of Ladysmith, he took part in operations in the Transvaal and fought at Laing’s Nek on 2nd to 9th June 1900.

Whilst on service in South Africa, he transferred to the 42nd Field Battery on 1st November 1901, and was then posted to the 1st Depot in South Africa on 3rd September 1902, before transferring to the Army Reserve on 9th July 1903, and being posted home on 13th October 1903 and discharged on 17th March 1904.