Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Mafeking (1890 Tpr: D. Francis. B.S.A. Police) edge bruising, otherwise good very fine £1800-2200

Trooper David Francis died of wounds at Mafeking on 3 February 1900. ‘A shell from the 94-pounder struck one of the splinter roofs at Cannon Kopje, smashing right in killing one man (Knox) who was really suffocated before he could be got out, breaking another man’s leg (Francis) and badly injuring another man’s back (T. Goddard). A heavy beam had fallen across his chest trapping him, he could be heard calling but could not be got out.’ Francis died after an operation proved to be too much for him. He is buried at Mafeking in a private grave with his brother, 2576 Trooper Walter Francis, B.S.A. Police, who was killed at Mafeking on 6 May 1900. They were killed three months apart but within a few yards of each other, close to Cannon Kopje. Both are commemorated on the obelisk in the Town Hall Square, Mafeking. Walter Francis’ Q.S.A. was sold in the Spink Anglo-Boer War Anniversary sale, October 1899.