A rare Great War East Africa campaign M.C. group of three awarded to Lieutenant J. W. Bayman, South African Forces, a Machine-Gun and Stokes Mortar Section Officer, who was wounded in August 1917

Military Cross, G.V.R., in its case of issue; British War and Bi-lingual Victory Medals (Lt.), nearly extremely fine (3) £600-800

M.C. London Gazette 27 July 1918.

James William Bayman, who was a tall man for his age, standing at over 6ft., attested for the 2nd S.A. Mounted Brigade in April 1916, was quickly appointed a Sergeant and embarked for East Africa on 17 June 1916, where he joined the 5th S.A.H. By November of the same year, however, having been advanced to “Lieutenant Machine-Gun Officer”, he had been hospitalised several times, a medical report stating:

‘Was first attacked in the trenches at Kissaki with malaria fever, was sent to hospital and detained for a week; was again in hospital at Morogoro for the same disease five or six times; was boarded at Korogwe and sent to Dar-es-Salem and is now recovering from attack of malaria.’

It is also apparent from the same report that Bayman’s time in the trenches had been far from quiet, for his disabilities were aggravated by two slight wounds received in action at Kissaki from deflected bullets, one of which smashed his dental plate. On being discharged he was granted three months recuperative leave.

In June 1917, on returning to active duty in East Africa, Bayman transferred to No. 2 Stokes Mortar Battery, 10th Gun Battery and was slightly wounded by a gunshot to the left knee on 19 August that year, no doubt in an action that contributed to the subsequent award of his M.C.

At the end of the 1917, having been advanced to Acting Captain, Bayman was again brought down by malaria, invalided home and released from military duties in June 1918. Three months later, however, he re-attested as a Private in the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, but saw no further action and was demobilised in January 1919.

Withdrawn