Auction Catalogue

27 June 2007

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 305

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27 June 2007

Hammer Price:
£200

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (4598 Pte. O. W. Trend, K.R.R.C.) good very fine £120-160

Octavius William Trend was born in Hackney, London. A Clerk by occupation, he attested for service in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 19 July 1888, aged 21 years, 3 months. With the 1st Battalion of the regiment he served in India, 25 November 1890-3 March 1896, seeing active service in the Hazara and Miranzai campaigns of 1891. For his services he was awarded the I.G.S. medal with clasps for Hazara and Samana 1891. Returning home in March 1896, he was transferred to the Army Reserve. Recalled to the Army in November 1899, he served in South Africa with the 1st Battalion, 13 December 1899-6 July 1901 for which he was awarded the Queen’s medal with five clasps. Returning home he was discharged on 18 July 1901. On 9 September 1901 he re-enlisted and was posted to the Royal Garrison Regiment. With them he served in the Mediterranean, 7 December 1901-28 June 1904 and in South Africa, 29 June 1904-29 July 1905. As a Lance-Corporal he was discharged at his own request with a Bounty of £31 on 4 August 1905. With the Great War in progress, Trend enlisted for a third time at Hornsey, London on 28 October 1915, aged 47 years, 8 months. Having considerable military experience, he was immediately posted to the 19th (Service) Battalion (2nd Public Works Pioneers) of the Middlesex Regiment as a Private. By January 1916 he had attained the rank of Sergeant and with the 19th Middlesex, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 2 May 1916. He returned to England on 20 January 1917 and was posted to the depot of the Middlesex Regiment at Mill Hill, Middlesex. On 3 August 1917 Trend was attached to the 1st (Home Service) Garrison Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, which almost immediately moved to Chattenden, near Rochester, and became the 16th Battalion Royal Defence Corps; Trend being appointed Orderly Room Sergeant. Rejoining the Middlesex Regiment Depot at Mill Hill in February 1918, he was appointed Orderly Room Clerk. In March 1919, he volunteered to serve in the Army of Occupation and was later posted to the 5th then the 6th (Reserve) Battalions Middlesex Regiment based at Gillingham and Rochester. He was finally discharged on 29 March 1920. Sold with copied service papers for his three periods of service, a detailed service history and other research.