Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (M. Johnson, Pte., R.M., H.M.S. Blanche), one or two edge bruises, very fine £160-180

Matthew Johnson was born in Blackburn in October 1881 and enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in January 1899. Appointed a Private in the Plymouth Division, he joined H.M.S. Blanche in April 1902, and would have been actively employed during her voyage to Port Nolloth in the following month, when she landed supplies in support of the relief operations for besieged town of O’okeip - he thereby qualified for the Queen’s South Africa Medal without clasp, one of 155 such awards to his ship. In August 1908, however, as verified by his service record, he deserted; sold with copied medal roll verification, ship history and service record.