An unusual pair of medals awarded to Engineer T. B. Gillespie, Mercantile Marine and Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7719 Pte. T. Gillespie, Thorneycroft’s M.I.); Transport 1899-1902, 1 clasp, S. Africa 1899-1902 (T. B. Gillespie) good very fine (2)
£1200-1500

Thomas Blair Gillespie was born in Glasgow in 1877. He served as Third Engineer aboard the transport S.S. Persia. She was bound for South Africa in November 1899 but 20 miles from St. Vincent she suffered a broken thrust shaft. On board were 157 men and 154 horses of the Inniskilling Dragoons. The transport Goth and H.M.S. Diadem assisted in transferring the men and horses from the damaged vessel - a task completed in four hours. After repairs in 1902 the Persia resumed transport duties to and from India. It was during the repairs to his ship and his unexpected extended stay in South Africa that Gillespie joined Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry on 10 October 1901.