Pair: Company Quartermaster Sergeant S. Fisher, Wiltshire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (3779 Serjt., Wiltshire Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3779 Sjt., Wilts. R.) edge bruising, good fine (lot) £450-550

Sydney Fisher was born near Exeter, Devon and was a Shoeing Smith by occupation when he enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment in Taunton on 13 January 1894. He served in England and India before going to South Africa for the final stages of the Boer War, qualifying for the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Transvaal and South Africa 1902. He had an excellent disciplinary record, with only one recorded offence during 25 years service, and amassed an impressive array of educational and specialist qualifications. He served at home during the First World War and was compulsorily transferred to the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) in 1918, shortly before he was discharged in February 1919. He was awarded his Army L.S. & G.C., with gratuity, in Army Order 145 of 30 April 1922. Lord Heytesbury, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Wiltshires, said in a letter that Fisher “always bore an excellent character”.

The medals are sold with:

Fisher’s full dress scarlet tunic with Wiltshire Regiment collar badges and shoulder titles. Sergeant’s rank badges and marksmen’s badges on the arms. Stamped inside is ‘2WTS 3779 3 06’. ‘3779’ was Fisher’s service number, so confirming that this was Fisher’s tunic.
 
Original documents: Fisher’s account book and pocket ledger, a 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment Drill Certificate, his Third Class Certificate of Education, his Second Class Certificate of Education, two Mounted Infantry Certificates, a Certificate of Proficiency from a Small Arms course, certificates listing his Qualifications in Military Subjects for the ranks of Corporal and Sergeant, his Demobilization Certificate when he was discharged after briefly serving with the Black Watch at the end of his career, and a handwritten letter of recommendation from Lord Heytesbury, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, dated 17 January 1919.
 
Photographs: A photograph of Fisher mounted, probably after having undergone a Mounted Infantry course, and a group photograph, including Fisher, taken at the School of Musketry in Hythe in November 1907.

Copied service papers.