Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Battery Sergeant-Major W. G. Jefferies, 38th Battery Royal Field Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (24980 B. Serjt:-Maj: W. G. Jefferies. R.F.A.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (24980 Pd. Ag. Br. W. G. Jefferies Q. Bty. 1st Bde. R.A.) with official corrections, unusual rank ‘Paid Acting Bombardier’; Queen‘s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Witterbergen (24980 B.S. Major W. G. Jefferies, 38th Bty., R.F.A.)); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (24980 B.S. Maj: W. G. Jefferies, R.A.) last with surname partially corrected, generally good very fine (4) £1800-2200

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

M.I.D London Gazette 10 September 1901.

William George Jefferies was born at St John, Newfoundland, and joined the Royal Artillery as a Boy on 6 April 1881. He became Sergeant in 1889, and Battery Sergeant-Major in 1898, receiving his L.S. & G.C. medal the following year. He served in South Africa with the 38th Battery R.F.A. from November 1899 to September 1901. During this period the 38th Battery ‘saw some fighting in Orange River Colony in April 1900. Had stiff work near Lindley. On 3rd July Major Oldfield and Lieutenant Belcher were killed and Captain Fitzgerald wounded. Two sections narrowly escaped capture. In Lord Roberts’ telegram of 10th July 1900, referring to the taking of Bethlehem, he said, “Paget reports that but for the accurate practice by the 38th Battery R.F.A. and the City Imperial Volunteer Battery under Major McMicking the casualties would have been many more.” The 38th went with Paget to the Transvaal, and a portion of the battery did good work at the taking of Erasmus’ Camp, September 1900, also at Rhenoster Kop 29th November... Early in 1901 the battery was with Babbington in the Western Transvaal, and afterwards a section was with the Kimberley column, and one section with Rawlinson in the South-West Transvaal.‘ (British Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902, J. Stirling, refers).

Trooper Jefferies died of enteric fever at Norvalspont on 19 September 1901.