Six: Driver W. J. J. Holtshousen, Union Defence Force, late South African Service Corps and Kimberley Volunteer Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (1395 Pte., Kimberley V.R.); 1914-15 Star (Pte., 7th Infantry); British War Medal 1914-20 (Sjt., 1st S.A.I.); Bilingual Victory Medal 1914-19 (Dvr., S.A.S.C.); War and Africa Service Medals, both officially named (65885 W. J. J. Holtshousen) slight edge bruising, very fine and better (6)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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Wessel Jacobus Johannes Holtshousen was born in Kimberley, Cape Province, on 30 May 1887. During 1902 he served in the Kimberley Volunteer Regiment. Holtshousen joined the 2nd Battalion Kimberley Regiment on 30 September 1914 and saw service in German South West Africa. He was discharged on 13 August 1915 but a week later joined the South African Veteran Regiment, being promoted to Corporal in February 1916 and discharged on 31 March 1916. He then attested for the S.A.S.C., Motor Transport, as a Dispatch Rider in early April 1916. Holtshousen was posted to Dar-es-Salaam in September 1916. After periods of illness he returned to South Africa in March 1917 and was discharged as ‘permanently unfit for service in German East Africa’ on 5 October 1917. Holtshousen then joined the Veteran Reserve (Kimberley) on 23 May 1918 and thence the 1st South African Infantry on 5 June 1918. He sailed for England on 17 July 1918 and in August was taken on to the strength of the 2nd Reserve Battalion. Holtshousen returned to South Africa in April 1919 and was discharged on 8 May 1919.

During the Second World War Holtshousen attested for the 1st Special Service [Reserve] Battalion, Kimberley, on 19 April 1940. In December he was transferred to the 7th (Orange Free State) Battalion, 1st Reserve Brigade. Holtshousen was taken on to the strength of the Discharge Depot at Bloemfontein on 30 June 1945 and thence the Union Defence Force in January 1946. He was finally discharged on 30 March 1947. With copied service papers.