Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Corporal S. Weller, Rifle Brigade, who was carried to safety by Private Edward Durrant after being wounded at Bergendal in August 1900 - which feat of bravery won the latter a Victoria Cross

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony (8599 Cpl., Rifle Brigade); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (8599 Corpl., Rifle Brigade); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (8599 Pte., Rifle Bde.), number officially corrected on the second, minor contact wear, generally very fine or better (3) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Cheshire and Manchester Regiments, Rifle Brigade and Royal Green Jackets formed by the late David Boniface.

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The citation for Edward Durrant’s V.C., which was published in the London Gazette on 18 October 1901, states:

‘At Bergendal, on 27 August 1900, Acting Corporal Wellar (sic), having been wounded and being somewhat dazed, got up from his prone position in the firing line, exposing himself still more to the enemy’s fire, and commenced to run towards them. Private Durrant rose, and, pulling him down, endeavoured to keep him quiet; but finding this impossible, he took him up and carried him back 200 yards under a heavy fire to shelter, returning immediately to his place in the line.’

Assuming Weller was discharged prior to the Great War, it is worth noting that 5013 Rifleman Sydney Weller, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade - who was born in Mickleham, Surrey and a resident of Bletchworth Hill on his enlistment - was killed in action on 22 September 1914.