Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare campaign group of six awarded to Quarter-Master & Lieutenant F. Stevens, Royal Engineers, who served in No. 4 Balloon Section in the Boxer Rebellion

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (22379 Corpl. F. Stevens, R.E.); China 1900, no clasp (22379 Sgt. F. Stevens, R.E.) 1914-15 Star (62214 C.S. Mjr. F. Stevens, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. F. Stevens); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (22379 C.S. Mjr. F. Stevens, R.E.), number and rank officially corrected on the first, occasional edge bruising but generally very fine (6) £800-1000

Frederick Stevens enlisted in the Royal Engineers in November 1887 and gained advancement to Corporal in June 1899, on the eve of witnessing active service in 26th Fortress Company, R.E., South Africa.

In the summer of 1900, however, and after being advanced to Sergeant, he joined No. 4 Balloon Section, R.E. and was embarked for North China, where he served until June 1901 and qualified for the Medal without clasp, one of just 80 such awards to the unit - the original roll signed by Lieutenant T. E. Martin-Leake, R.E., at Aldershot, in May 1902, refers. Commanded by Major J. R. L. MacDonald, and afterwards by Captain A. H. B. Hume,, 4th Balloon Section carried out a number of ascents, their equipment comparing favourably with those of our Allies similarly inclined:

‘On 12 November 1900, preparations were made for filling a balloon, and the French balloon was seen up in the distance. On 13 November, Balloon “Tugela” was filled in the Board of War Yard, temperature 31 degrees at 8.30 a.m., wind south, from calm to four miles per hour. The balloon was taken out to the south of the Imperial City, and ascents made by all officers and men up to a maximum of 1500 feet ... ’

As verified by accompanying research, Stevens kept his R.E. comrades in the U.K. updated with the Section’s news, writing to the Sapper on two or three occasions, and he was also favourably mentioned in Captain Hume’s official report dated 15 May 1901.

Having then been placed on the Army Reserve in the rank of Company Sergeant-Major, he was recalled on the outbreak of hostilities and first went out to France in May 1915, his commission as a Quarter-Master & Lieutenant being obtained in December 1917.