Three: Corporal E. Chambers, Royal Horse Artillery

Royal Niger Company Medal 1886-97, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1886-1897, silver (Corporal E. Chambers, Royal Horse Artillery) impressed naming, suspension slack; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Niger 1897 (Corp. E. Chambers, R.H.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (73316 Cpl. E. Chambers, R.H.A.) the medals in a contemporary fitted leather case, edge bruising, contact marks, very fine and better, rare (3) £3800-4200

Ex Bonhams 20 April 2006, when the East & West Africa Medal was stated to be renamed. In our opinion the medal is correctly named and absolutely as issued.

A total of 82 Royal Niger Company Medals in silver awarded but only 7 to British Army non-commissioned officers. Corporal E. Chambers, Royal Horse Artillery, confirmed as a recipient of the Royal Niger Company Medal, serving in one expedition whilst on attachment to the Company, July 1896-August 1897.

Edward Chambers was born in Stockport, Cheshire. A Hatter by occupation, he attested for the Royal Artillery at Liverpool on 9 May 1889, aged 18 years, 5 months. He was transferred as a Gunner to the Royal Horse Artillery in October 1889 and was promoted to Bombardier in November 1890. With them he served in ‘operations on the Niger 1897’. Transferred to the Army Reserve in April 1898, he was recalled for service in the Boer War, serving in South Africa, 12 July 1900-1 April 1902. Sold with two copied photographs of the recipient and copied service papers.