Seven: Regimental Sergeant-Major James Dray, East Kent Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (4960 Serjt: J. Dray. E.K. Regt.); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps (4960 Serjt: J. Dray. E. Kent Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (L-4960 W.O.Cl.II. J. Dray. E. Kent R.); Defence Medal; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (4960 C.Sjt: J. Dray. E. Kent Regt.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (4960 W.O.Cl.2. J. Dray. E. Kent R.) the Boer War pair with contact marks and minor edge bruising, good fine, otherwise nearly very fine or better (7) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Alan Cathery Collection of Medals to The Buffs, the East Kent Regiment.

View
Collection

The Robert F. Brett Collection of Medals to the Buffs, Dix Noonan Webb, September 1999.

‘Jimmy’ Dray, according to The Dragon, was the first Buff to land in South Africa, arriving at Cape Town on 16 November 1899, where he went on to Natal with the 2nd Division Staff. He was one of eight brothers to serve in the Great War and his father received a letter from the King in 1914, when seven were serving, the eighth joining in 1916. One brother was killed at Zonnebeke in April 1916, and another was wounded. He served as an Instructor in the Home Guard at Horsham until he resigned in 1944 at the age of 68. He received the Annuity M.S.M. in 1952. Jimmy Dray was an outstanding all-round sportsman and won many Battalion and Brigade Championships, and regularly competed with some success in various Army Championships.