Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Q.S.A. awarded to Private Henry McConnell, 6th Dragoons, servant to Lieutenant Lawrence E. G. Oates (of Scott’s last expedition fame) during the Boer War, who died of disease, 10 April 1901

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (4072 Pte. R. (sic) McConnell, 6th Dragoons) second clasp loose on ribbon, some edge bruising, good very fine £400-500

Henry S. McConnell was born in Dundrum, near Dublin. A Trade Clerk by occupation, he enlisted into the Corps of Dragoons of the Line at Dublin on 24 December 1898, aged 17 years, 9 months.

Henry McConnell was servant to Lieutenant L. E. G. Oates during the Boer War who said of him. ‘That boy McConnell is a splendid fellow ... he does the work of 6 men and is very good with horses ... he used to be a clerk with the Army and Navy Stores and then he was in Guiness’s drawing £800 a year.’

On 6 March 1901 Oates was wounded in action, suffering a severe gunshot wound to the thigh (Though called upon twice to surrender had replied, ‘We came to fight, not to surrender’ - his actions were to bring him a recommendation for the Victoria Cross). On hearing of that Oates had been wounded and was stranded on the veldt, McConnell and Private Malone (son of the riding master Malone, V.C.) without permission stole out of camp with Oates’s second charger in an attempt to rescue him. However, they were cut off from him by heavy fire and the horse was wounded, and much downhearted, they had to abandon their rescue bid.

In April 1901 McConnell fell ill with enteric fever. On hearing this Oates wrote to the doctor in charge on 21 April 1901 to see if anything could be done for him. However, news travelled slowly, as McConnell had already died at Murraysburg on 10 April 1901. Ref. Captain Oates Soldier and Explorer, by Sue Limb and Patrick Cordingley.

With original ‘Soldiers Small Book’ and a copied photograph of the recipient.