Auction Catalogue
Four: Acting Sergeant A. Basham, Royal Field Artillery, who was present in 62nd Battery’s memorable action at Modder River
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Modder River, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (29438 Dr. A. Basham, 62 B. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (54649 Dvr. A. Basham, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (54649 A. Sjt. A. Basham, R.A.), the first with unofficially riveted top clasp, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £180-220
62nd Battery, R.F.A., arrived at Modder River on 8 November 1899, after covering 62 miles in 28 hours; six horses were dead in their traces and another 40 had to be destroyed. Notwithstanding their obvious exhaustion, the Battery’s officers and men quickly went into action and played a vital role in the artillery duel that ensued. Casualties were high, one battery officer writing:
‘Our Major advanced, we took up positions 800 yards from the Boer trenches and by Jove the Boers let us have a fearful reception. Before I got my horses out they shot one of my drivers and two horses and brought down my own horse. We then got my gun round on the enemy when one of my gunners was shot through the brain and fell at my feet. Another was shot bringing up a shell. Then we got a look in ... ’
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