Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Band Sergeant G. J. Finlay, Wiltshire Regiment, who was taken P.O.W. at Rensburg in February 1900

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (1541 Cpl. G. J. Finlay, 2nd Wilts. Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1541 Corpl. G. J. Finlay, Wiltshire Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (1541 Cpl. G. J. Finlay, Wilts. Regt.), the first two with contact marks and somewhat polished, nearly very fine, the last rather better (3) £300-350

George James Finlay was born in Dartmoor, Devon, and enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment as a boy recruit in Dublin in July 1886, aged 14 years. He subsequently served out in India as a Drummer and Lance-Corporal from November 1886 until November 1895, and in South Africa as a Corporal from December 1899 until May 1903, the latter period witnessing active service in the Boer War and his capture by the enemy at Rensburg on 14 February 1900.

The disaster that befell the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment at Rensburg stemmed from ‘D’ and ‘G’ Companies not being informed of a changed time to withdraw to Arundel. As a result, the two Companies, under Major F. R. MacMullen, set off at daybreak, as originally instructed, and soon came under heavy fire. Thereafter, as one correspondent put it, ‘For more than two hours these gallant men fought against overwhelming odds, and not until their ammunition was exhausted did they surrender’. Casualties were high, the Wiltshires suffering 14 killed, including Major MacMullen, and 45 wounded, and altogether 130 officers and men became prisoners - luckily to be released on the fall of Bloemfontein a few weeks later.

Advanced to Band Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion and awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1905, Finlay, ‘ a very good cornet and violin player’, was finally discharged in the rank of Band Sergeant in July 1907. Re-enlisting in April 1915, he was appointed a Sergeant Bugler in the Royal Irish Rifles, but saw no service overseas and was demobilised in early 1919. He died in Belfast in October 1936;.

Sold with research, including copied attestation and service papers.