Auction Catalogue

27 & 28 September 2016

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 1098

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28 September 2016

Hammer Price:
£850

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1878 (Capt: S. J. Lowe, Griqualand. West. L.I.) officially re-engraved naming, with top silver riband buckle, nearly extremely fine £300-400

Stanley John Lowe was born in Devon in 1833 and was commissioned Ensign in the 81st Foot (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) on the 18 April 1851. Promoted Lieutenant on 27th May 1853, he embarked with the Regiment for India in July of that year, and was stationed first at Meerut, before moving in 1856 to Lahore. He served during the Indian Mutiny (entitled to a no clasp medal), and was promoted Captain on 12 December 1859. He exchanged as Captain to the 25th Foot (King’s Own Borderers) in June 1860, and served with them in Ceylon and India before retiring by sale of his commission in May 1869. Emigrating to South Africa, he was commissioned into the Colonial Forces as Captain Commanding the Griqualand West Light Infantry on 1 June 1878, and served throughout the Griqualand West Rebellion, being present at the actions at Wittsand Heights on 24 June 1858, at Fakoon on 24 July 1858, and at Makalaquas Kloof on 12 October 1878. Promoted Major, Griqualand West Border Police, on 1 October 1880, he also served as Commandant of the Right Wing of the Kimberley Horse in the Basuto War from 29 September 1880 until 18 April 1881, when the Corps was disbanded. Major Lowe subsequently served as the Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate at Taungs, British Bechuanaland, and died there of pneumonia on 11 August 1893, the claims against his estate far in excess of its assets. An auction of his effects was held, which raised a net amount of £58 8s 11d, the items sold ranging from ‘one plant’ at 4d to a ‘horse’ at £11.

The Griqualand West Rifle Volunteer Corps was established in October 1876, and changed its name to the Griqualand West Light Infantry in June 1877. Initially no medal roll was submitted on behalf of the Griqualand West Light Infantry, and it was not until Lowe wrote to the Military Secretary, Cape of Good Hope enquiring about his medal that the omission was realised. A roll was subsequently submitted, and Lowe received his medal in October 1884, possibly named up from one of the Mint’s mountain of returns. 130 medals, all with clasp 1878, were issued to the unit, of which 85 were returned to the Royal Mint.