TOPIC:

From the City Coins auction, 4 November 2022

A father and son pair.

QSA (1) Talana (J. J. Green. Dundee Tn: Gd:)

BWM and AVM (bilingual) (Pte J. J. Green 3rd S.A.I.)

QSA to John James Green sold with six-page biography and copied Roll.

507 Private Johannes Jacobus Green 3 SAI had 5 different service numbers and a chequered career in the army.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (4475 Pte W.R. Quilliam. Cheshire Regt), unofficial rivets

Spink state 'W.R. Quilliam appears on the Medal Roll for service in South Africa with the Second Battalion The Cheshire Regiment; these clasps, however, remain unconfirmed.'

Spink should be much more clear. Quillam is entitled to a no clasp medal (WO100/180p240).

No comment is made about the Defence of Ladysmith / Tugela Heights combination. Entitlement to the Tugela Heights clasp states 'A clasp inscribed "Tugela Heights" will be granted to all troops of the Natal Field Force, exclusive of the Ladysmith garrison, employed in the operations north of an east and west line through Chieveley Station between February 14th and 27th, 1900, both dates inclusive.'

The 2nd Cheshires would have read about the battle of Talana from their barracks in England. The 2nd Battalion sailed on the Britannic about 7th January 1900, arriving about the 27th.

Spink have really slipped up here. There is just so much wrong with this medal. I would have thought somebody would have picked up at least that Tugela Heights couldn't be awarded without Relief of Ladysmith and never with Defence of Ladysmith.

Why anyone would sell these as a pair is beyond me.


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (4) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4373 Pte. E. Pritchard. 18th Hussars);
Kimberley Star, 'a'

Entitled to KSA (2)

Picture courtesy of Bill Friar

QSA (4) Talana, DoL, SA1901, SA1902 (3354 PTE C SLATER LEIC REGT)

£410

The same five or six Norfolks (1 Bn, arrived from India, attached to British Field Hospital No. 26) that received the Talana clasp are the only Norfolks with Defence of Ladysmith. There are six names on the roll but one of them was invalided home early and his entitlement is not clear.

Rob.