Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private J. Murray, Dorset Regiment, later Corporal, South African Constabulary

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 (1338. Pte. J. Murray. 2/Dorset. Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 1 clasp, South Africa 1902 (1338 Pte. J. Murray. Dorset: Regt.) clasps distributed thus across medals, as issued, very fine (2) £200-240

James Murray was born on 22 September 1867 and served with the 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment in South Africa from 15 December 1899, before transferring to the South African Constabulary on 3 May 1902 and being advanced to Corporal.

Note: The Medal Roll for the recipient’s King’s South Africa Medal, dated Colchester, 8 November 1904, states: ‘Name: 1338 Private Murray, J. Clasps: South Africa 1901, -; South Africa 1902, 1. Remarks: Clasp for 1901 already received.’
It would therefore appear that his South Africa 1901 clasp was issued with his Queen’s South Africa Medal, and was not re-issued when his King’s South Africa Medal was issued in November 1904.