Pair: Acting-Lieutenant J. Corban, York and Lancaster Regiment, late Army Cyclist Corps, Army Gymnastic Staff and King’s Royal Rifle Corps

King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (8361 Corpl., K.R.R.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (8361 Sjt., K.R.R.C.) some contact marks, nearly very fine and better (2) £220-260

M.I.D. London Gazette 2 January 1917.

Joseph Corban was born in the Parish of Church near Accrington, Lancashire. Of no occupation, he attested for service in the K.R.R.C. on 3 November 1893, aged 14 years, 10 months. He was posted as a Boy in the 3rd then 1st Battalion, and was appointed a Bugler, September 1896-December 1897 and then a Bandsman, December 1897-June 1898. With the 1st Battalion he served in India, 9 March 1894-17 January 1897.

Posted to Mauritius, he sailed on the Warren Hastings from Bombay, via the Seychelles to Cape Town. There, part of the 1st Battalion K.R.R.C. disembarked; remaining on the ship for the journey to Mauritius were the H.Q. and A., C. and G. Companies, Joseph Corban being amongst them. Leaving Cape Town on 6 January, the ship ran aground on 14 January on the French Island of Reunion. Such was the discipline of the K.R.R.C. and other troops aboard the stricken ship, that aside from two native crew members, all made it safely ashore. The officers and men received many commendations for their stalwart behaviour and the wreck of the Warren Hastings became a symbol of British steadiness and discipline in adversity.

Corban finally arrived at Mauritius on 18 January and remained there until 21 March 1899. He was then posted to South Africa, where he served until 21 September 1902 and was promoted to Lance-Corporal in February 1902. For his services in the Boer War he was awarded the Q.S.A. with clasps for Cape Colony, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek and Belfast, and the K.S.A. with two clasps. He then served in Malta, 22 September 1902-26 February 1905 and Egypt, 27 February 1905-12 February 1909, being promoted to Lance-Serjeant in July 1906 and Serjeant in November 1907. He was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. in 1912. Having returned to England, on 14 January 1913 he was appointed a Serjeant-Instructor in the Army Gymnastic Staff. With the onset of war he served with the B.E.F. in France, 12 August 1914-6 December 1916, being transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps in January 1915. With them he was appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major on 10 May 1916. In December 1916 Corban was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the York and Lancaster Regiment (London Gazette 12 January 1917) and was mentioned in General Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches. Acting Lieutenant Corban, 10th (Service) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, was killed in action, in Belgium on 17 July 1917. He was buried in the Pond Farm Military Cemetery, Wulverhem. Lieutenant Corban’s next-of-kin was his sister, Miss Mary Corban of 28 Castle Street, Blackburn. Sold with a quantity of copied service papers, quite a number relating to the recipient’s Will and effects. With other copied research. Entitled to the 1914 Star with clasp, British War and Victory Medals.

See lot 309 for another member of the K.R.R.C. aboard the Warren Hastings.