Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (4185 Corpl. C. Drake, Rl. W. Surrey Regt.) officially re-impressed naming, edge nicks and contact marks, nearly very fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for The Battle of Elandslaagte, 21 October 1899.

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Charles William Drake was born in Castor, Northamptonshire in July 1875 and enlisted in the Royal West Surrey Regiment in November 1892, direct from the 3rd (Militia) Battalion. Subsequently embarked for India, he was present in the Tirah and Punjab Frontier operations of 1897-98, in addition to qualifying for the above described Medal & clasps in South Africa - one of just three men in his regiment to qualify for the “Elandslaagte” clasp. Having then been discharged in March 1907, largely as a result of an injury to one of his feet caused by a wagon at Ladysmith, he rejoined the Colours with an appointment in the Military Mounted Police in September 1914, and first entered the French theatre of war as a Sergeant that December. Remaining there until his transferral to the Salonika front in January 1916, he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915 refers) and awarded the D.C.M. (As per Army Order No. 58, dated 1 February 1916). So, too, another “mention” for his subsequent services with H.Q., 27th Division in Salonika (London Gazette 28 November 1917 refers). Re-embarked for the U.K. in March 1918, he was commissioned in the Army Service Corps and was finally demobbed as a Lieutenant in January 1920. Drake died at Camberley, Surrey in March 1951, aged 67 years; sold with a quantity of research, including Medal & clasp roll verification.

N.B. The recipient’s complete set of Honours & Awards, including his D.C.M. and another Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 Medal, were sold at Spink in May 1902.