Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (4401 Pte. J. O’Brien, 1/R. Dub. Fus.) edge bruising, very fine and rare £180-220

Just 33 such Medals were awarded to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

John O’Brien was born in Cork and enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in March 1892, aged 18 years. Posted to the 1st Battalion that July, he served out in South Africa and in Rhodesia between May 1896 and June 1897, returning home in the latter month. Returning to South Africa for the Boer War, he served there from November 1899 until February 1902 and qualified for the Queen’s Medal with four clasps, including the relief of Ladysmith, and the King’s Medal with two clasps. O’Brien was discharged in March 1904.