Auction Catalogue

28 February & 1 March 2018

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 311

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28 February 2018

Hammer Price:
£550

Pair: Sergeant J. Smith, Essex Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (1655 Serjt. J. Smith, Essex Regt.); Militia L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (1655 Sjt: J. Smith. Essex Regt. Mil.) light contact marks, nearly very fine £400-500

Joseph Smith was born in Halstead, Essex, in 1868 and attested for the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Essex Regiment on 19 January 1887. His service papers record him as being present at every annual training from 1887 to 1906 apart from 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1903. He was promoted Corporal on 1 June 1896 and Sergeant on 14 August 1900, and was twice embodied for service during the Boer War, from 11 December 1899 to 20 October 1900 and from 10 March 1902 to 6 October 1902. During the latter period, he served in South Africa and gained entitlement to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony and South Africa 1902. He was awarded his Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 138 of July 1905, and was discharged by purchase on 8 January 1907, only a few days short of 20 years’ service in the militia.

Note: Smith’s Militia L.S. & G.C. is one of only 4 such awards to the Essex Regiment, and the only one awarded to an N.C.O.