A Boer War ‘Defence of Ladysmith’ D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Private Charles Sands, Royal Sussex Regiment, late Rifle Brigade

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (2254 Pte., Rifle Bde.); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (2254 Pte., 2/R. Bde.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (2254 Pte., Rifle Brigade); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (2254 Pte., Rifle Brigade); 1914-15 Star (347 Pte., R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals (347 Pte., R. Suss. R.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum, unnamed, edge bruising, contact marks, good fine and better (8) £2400-2800

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 November 1900.

Charles Sands was born in Hayes, Bromley, Kent. Having formerly served with the Sussex R.F.A. Volunteers, he enlisted into the Army and served with the Rifle Brigade. With the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, he served in the Sudan and in South Africa. For his services at the Defence of Ladysmith, Sands was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After the war, Sands was discharged as time expired and was employed as a Groom. With the onset of the Great War he attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment on 1 September 1914, aged 43 years, 3 months. Serving with the 8th Battalion, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 24 July 1915 and remained there until August 1916. Returning to England, he was then posted to the 23rd Battalion Training Reserve. In March 1917 he was transferred to the Agricultural Company Department of the Labour Corps. Sands was transferred to the Class Z Reserve on 13 March 1919.

With ‘South Africa 1900’ Christmas Tin (empty); copied attestation papers of 1914, m.i.c. and other research.