Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: Regimental Sergeant Major James Dray, East Kent Regiment
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (4960 Serjt., E.K. Regt.); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps (4960 Serjt., E. Kent Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (L-4960 W.O.Cl.II, E. Kent R.); Defence Medal; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (4960 C.Sjt., E. Kent Regt.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (4960 W.O.Cl.2, E. Kent R.) mounted as worn, contact marks to the earlier medals, otherwise nearly very fine or better (7) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brett Collection of Medals to The Buffs.

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According to The Dragon, ‘Jimmy’ Dray was the first Buff to land in South Africa, arriving at Cape Town on 16 November 1899, where he went on to Natal with the 2nd Division Staff. He was one of eight brothers to serve in the Great War and his father received a letter from the King in 1914, when seven were serving, the eighth joining in 1916. One brother was killed at Zonneke in April 1916, and another was wounded. He served as an Instructor in the Home Guard at Horsham until he resigned in 1944 at the age of 68. He received the Annuity M.S.M. in 1952. Jimmy Dray was an outstanding all-round sportsman and won many Battalion and Brigade Championships, and regularly competed with some success in various Army Championships.