Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6224 Pte. P. Burke. N. Staff: Regt.) extremely fine £100-140

Patrick Burke was born in Stone, Staffordshire, in 1878, and attested for the Prince of Wales’ (North Staffordshire) Regiment at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, on 17 April 1900. Initially attached to the Depot, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 21 August 1900, and in March 1901 was tried by District Court Martial and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. Returning to duty, he served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 30 September 1901 to 24 January 1902, before being discharged at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, on 25 March 1902, in consequence of having been found medically unfit for further service; although his discharge papers refer to him as being ‘insane’, the pension board admission books maintained by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, give the cause of his discharge as Melancholia. His conduct and character with the Colours is described as ‘Indifferent (Insubordination)’.

Sold with copied discharge papers, medal roll extract, and other research.