Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South African War National Commemorative 1899-1900, by F. Bowcher, manufactured by Spink, London, obverse, a wounded soldier with standing right, rifle at the ready, ‘The National Commemorative Medal 1899-1900; reverse, Union flag enveloping a stalk of wheat, rose, thistle and shamrock, ‘The Queen God Bless Her, This Medal Commemorates the Magnificent Response of Britain’s Sons to the Empire’s Call to Arms! Transvaal War 1899-1900’, below, ‘Daily Mail Kipling Poem’ (Trooper Cole, Royal North Devon Imperial Yeomanry) 45mm., silver, fitted with a swivel ring suspension, minor edge bruising, good very fine £100-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Boer War Tribute Medals.

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Ref. B.H.M. 3690; Eimer 1851a.

William Giles Woolway Cole was born in South Molton in 1875. A Farmer by occupation, he volunteered for the Imperial Yeomanry at Barnstaple and was posted to the 27th (Devonshire) Company, 7th Battalion I.Y. - being listed as one of the first volunteers for service in South Africa. For his services in the Boer War he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901); awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 27 September 1901), and awarded the Queen’s medal with clasps for Diamond Hill, Orange Free State and South Africa 1901.

With copied gazette extracts and other research.