Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The South Africa 1834-53 Medal awarded to Private J. Clements, 45th Regiment, who was wounded at the battle of Boom Plats in August 1848

South Africa 1834-53 (J. Clements, 45th Regt.), edge nicks and slightly polished, otherwise very fine £600-700

John Clements was born at Glastonbury, Somerset and enlisted in the 45th Regiment at Windsor in August 1839, aged 17 years.

In his subsequent career of 20 years with the Colours, he served in Gibraltar and Monte Video, in addition to 12 years in the Cape of Good Hope, the latter period witnessing his participation in the operations in 1846-47 and 1850-53. Moreover, as verified by his discharge papers, he ‘was wounded at Boom Plaats, Cape of Good Hope - right ankle grazed’.

This was Sir Harry Smith’s victorious encounter with the Boers near Jaggersfontein on the Orange River on 29 August 1848. At the centre of the British advance was the 45th Regiment, as a consequence of which its ranks came under heavy fire and sustained a number of casualties.

Clements was discharged at Aldershot at his own request in May 1861, when he stated that his intended place of residence was Weeden, Northamptonshire; sold with copied discharge papers.