A Boer War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Corporal S. Fearnside, Scots Guards

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (8360 L. Corpl. S. Fearnside. 2nd Scots Gds:) officially impressed naming; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (8360 L. Corpl. S. Fearnside. 2nd Scots Gds:) contemporarily re-engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (8360 Corpl: S. Fearnside. Scots Guards.) engraved correction to initial, mounted as worn on contemporary wearing bar, good very fine (3) £1,400-£1,800

D.C.M. London Gazette 31 October 1902. Initial not shown in Gazette but given as ‘F’ for D.C.M. announced in Army Orders as published in the Dundee Evening Telegraph, and as ‘W’ on the rolls for both campaign medals.

M.I.D. London Gazette 29 July 1902.

Stephen Fearnside was born on 10 November 1868, at Old Deer, Aberdeen, and originally attested for the Royal Artillery on 2 February 1887, a gardener by trade, and served one year 94 days with the 1st Brigade Field Artillery, before purchasing his discharge for £18. After a short period working as a porter for the Midland railway at Bredbury Station, he enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards at Stockport on 27 August 1889, serving with them until 27 August 1896, when he transferred to the reserve. He was recalled to the colours upon the outbreak of the Second Boer War and joined the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards on 26 December 1899. He served with the battalion in South Africa from 15 March 1900 to 15 August 1902, being appointed Lance-Corporal in December 1900. He was transferred to the 3rd Battalion on 18 August 1902, and discharged at the end of the same month.

Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.