Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (4218 Pte. S. Tattersall, 2/Y. & Lanc. Regt.) edge nicks and contact marks, otherwise very fine £300-350

Samuel Tattersall was born in the parish of St. Phillip’s, Sheffield and enlisted in the York and Lancaster Regiment in April 1895, aged 19 years, direct from the 3rd (Militia) Battalion. In his subsequent career of 15 years with the Colours, he served for ten of them out in India, but his only medal entitlement was for his service in Rhodesia in 1896. He was discharged in September 1910, his record noting that he was ‘much inclined to drink but a smart and hard working soldier.’

In August 1915, he re-enlisted in his old regiment and was embarked for France in January 1916, where he served in the 10th Battalion until invalided home with gun shot wounds to his head and legs in October 1917. He returned once more to France in July 1918, and transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers in August 1919, being discharged for a final time in May of the following year. Tattersall died at Sheffield Hospital in August 1944.