A rare Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Sergeant C. Mew, Royal Engineers, who served in No. 2 and 3 Balloon Sections and was twice mentioned in despatches

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (20944 Serjt. C. Mew, R.E.) contact marks, and edge bruising, good fine £600-700

Charles Mew was born in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. A Shoeing-Smith by occupation and a member of the Submarine Miners at Gosport, he attested for the Royal Engineers at Fort Rowner, Gosport on 5 May 1886, aged 18 years 6 months. He was promoted to 2nd Corporal in December 1892, Corporal in July 1896 and to Serjeant in July 1899. He qualified as an Engine Driver in March 1898. Serjeant Mew served in South Africa, September 1899-October 1902.

He served in No. 3 Field Troop, R.E., which was formed from No. 2 Balloon Section after the relief of Ladysmith, and in No. 3 Balloon Section, until the end of hostilities, and was twice mentioned in despatches - by Sir Redvers Buller’s in his despatch dated 9 November 1900 ‘as particularly deserving’ (London Gazette 8 February 1901), and by Lord Kitchener in his despatch dated 8 July 1901 (London Gazette 20 August 1901), this last after being specially brought to notice by the Adjutant-General, Pretoria, for ‘good service in Eastern Transvaal during Lieutenant-General French’s operations in February-April 1901’, which distinction appeared in Lord Kitchener’s despatch dated 8 July 1901 (London Gazette 20 August 1901).

For his services in South Africa he was awarded the Queen’s medal with six clasps and the King’s medal with two. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal with gratuity in 1904. Mew attained the rank of Company Sergeant-Major in November 1905 and was discharged on the termination of his second period of engagement on 4 May 1907. With copied service papers and other research, including a stereoscopic photograph of the Balloon Corps Transport in action.