Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 June 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 923

.

26 June 2008

Hammer Price:
£650

Five: Major J. Cairns, Royal Engineers, late East Lancashire Regiment and Brabant’s Horse

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Wepener, Wittebergen, Cape Colony (1051 Trooper J. Cairne, 2/Brabant’s Horse) note spelling of surname; 1914 Star (Capt., E. Lancs. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (Major, R.E.) first with edge bruise, very fine and better (5) £520-580

During the Boer War James Cairns initially served in the ranks of Brabant’s Horse. He was commissioned in January 1900 with the 1st Edinburgh Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers and being promoted to Lieutenant in June 1901, resigned his commission in December 1903. Commissioned a Captain in the Tower Hamlets R.E. Volunteers in 1905 and from April 1906 was a Captain in the 3rd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. Still with the battalion with the onset of the Great War, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 8 September 1914 attached to the 1st East Yorkshire Regiment. He was transferred to the Royal Engineers in 1917 and served from April 1918 as Temporary Major and D.A.A.G. at H.Q., India. Cairns was promoted to Major in August 1924 and later served as Assistant Commanding the Royal Engineers with the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade. He died on 29 January 1944, aged 64 years at Fecock, Cornwall. Sold with copied research.