Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (4304 Pte. A. E. Webb, 3rd Rif. Bde.) good very fine and rare £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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Seven men of the 3rd Battalion, then stationed at Rawalpindi, were posted to China as part of a Telegraph Section under Lieutenant Loch, Royal Engineers. A lively account of their exploits was published in the Rifle Brigade Chronicle of 1901 by Private G. Haywood, 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, in charge Telegraph Office, Pekin:

‘August 16th... The only building left standing were in the British and American Legations, the Hong Kong Bank and Hotel de Pekin. We opened office in the British Legation, in the Secretary’s House. We had to clear the room out first as it was full of cartridge cases and ammunition boxes. I was put in charge with Private Webb, of the 3rd Battalion to assist. We opened with a telephone the first day, but next we moved over to the American Legation and worked an instrument, called the “Buzzer.” We did twenty-four hours between us at this; not only doing British but American and every other Power’s work here; Japanese, Russian, French, German, Austrian, and also Press messages. We were working day and night relieving each other for meals. Inside the British Leagtion were troops of all nationalities, wounded and sick, also missionaries. Civilians were strutting about armed to the teeth, with their rifles, bandoliers, etc., all day long.’