Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

A Mashonaland 1897 and Boer War pair to Private W. Mears, 14th Hussars, late 7th Hussars

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Mashonaland 1897 (3844 Pte. W. Mears, 7th Huss.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (223 Pte. W. Mears, 14/Hrs.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (2) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson.

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William Mears was born at Hackney, London, and enlisted for the 15th Hussars at London on 27 February 1891. He transferred to the 7th Hussars in August 1892, and served with them during the Mashonaland operations of 1897, being one of only 16 men of the regiment to get the medal with this reverse. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in December 1898, but was recalled for service in the Boer War and posted to the 14th Hussars in January 1900. Private Mears was dangerously wounded in the fierce action at Geluk, between Machadodorp and Heidelberg, on 13 October 1900. Interestingly, the regimental history lists Mears as having been mortally wounded, and in two places on his discharge papers the words “Killed in action” have been crossed out. Major E. D. Brown was awarded the Victoria Cross at this action for rescuing, one after another, an officer, a sergeant, and a corporal. Private Mears was sent home in January 1901, and was discharged as medically unfit for further service on 6 August 1901.