Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (Capt. F. J. Choles, Natal Vol. Forces) good very fine, scarce £180-220

Frederick John Choles was born in Wolverhampton on 24 December 1846, the son of James Oscar Choles, of Wiltshire. Educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School and as an Engineer at the London and North Western Locomotive Engineering Departments. Served in the Bombay Ordnance Department under Major-General Worgan, Inspector-General of Ordnance. Was specially employed at the Gun Powder Mills and Snider factories at Kirkee and later at the Grand Arsenal and Government Dockyards at Bombay. In 1874 he was on special duty at the Arsenals at Mhow and Neemich, Central India.

He was appointed to the Natal Defence Force Department in 1879. Served as Ordnance Officer in the Natal Militia Staff. Was still serving as such in 1906, the oldest member of the Militia Staff. During the Boer War Wars of 1881 and 1899-1902, he served at the Militia’s base of operations - Pietermaritzburg, Natal. With copied research ref. Natal Who’s Who 1906.