Orders, Decorations and Medals

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2486 Pte. J. Knox, K.R.R.C.) contact marks, nearly very fine £90-110

James Knox was born in Mullinaratt, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny. A Labourer by occupation, he attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Cork on 2 January 1900, aged 18 years 2 months. After completing his basic training he was posted to the 4th Battalion K.R.R.C. in Ireland. In February 1901 a mounted infantry company from the 4th Battalion, consisting of 5 officers and 135 other ranks, including Knox, embarked at Queenstown on the S.S. Columbine for active service in South Africa. Initially known as the 19th Mounted Infantry Company, they served in various columns in the Eastern Transvaal. Serving in the unit then known as the 25th (Rifles) M.I. Battalion - 4th Company, Knox is likely to have been present at the battle of Brakenlaagte, 30 October 1901. For his services in the Boer War Knox was awarded the Queen’s medal with five clasps. Leaving South Africa on 13 January 1903, he was then posted to Somaliland as part of the 4th Battalion K.R.R.C. Mounted Infantry, remaining there until 8 July 1904. For his services he was awarded the A.G.S. with clasps for Somaliland 1902-04 and Jidballi. On 6 November 1907 he transferred to the Military Foot Police and was promoted to Lance-Corporal on the same day. On 18 January 1911 he re-engaged to complete 21 years with the colours. Serving in the Great War, on 4 January 1916 he embarked at Liverpool on the H.M.T. Olympic for active service with the Salonika Expeditionary Force, and on 29 January he was appointed Acting Sergeant. On 11 April 1917 he was advanced to Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major and attached to the Military Provost Staff Corps and posted to the military prison at Lembert. He was transferred to the M.P.S.C. in March 1918 and remained with them until re-transferred back to the Military Foot Police in November 1918, reverting to the rank of Acting Sergeant. He returned home from the Salonika theatre of war in October 1918. For his services in the war he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (London Gazette 13 February 1917). He was discharged on the termination of his second period of engagement on 1 January 1921. Sold with copied service and medical history papers and a detailed service history.