Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Pair: Lance-Sergeant R. E. Valpy, 18th Hussars
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (4497 Corpl. R. Valpy, 18th Hussars); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4497 Corpl. R. Valpy, 18th Hussars) nearly extremely fine

Five: N. Valpy, South African Forces
1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially named ‘53403 N. Valpy’, with registered envelope addressed to ‘Mnr/Mr. N. Valpy, Bergendal, Somerset West, C.P.’, generally good very fine or better (7) £600-£700

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2010 (son’s medals subsequently added).

Richard Edward Valpy was born in Elsing, Norfolk, and attested for the 18th Hussars at London in October 1895. He advanced to Lance-Corporal in October 1896, and served with the Regiment in South Africa, October 1898 - October 1902.

The lot is sold with the recipient’s original Boer War period pocket diary, entries largely comprising poems and verses, but also several pages dedicated to Talana and other operations leading up to the siege of Ladysmith (September to October 1899), including nominal rolls, from which the following entry for 20 October has been taken:

‘At 5 a.m. the enemy shells began falling into camp. All had to clear out, marched in a southerly direction. My Troop narrowly escaped a bursting shell in a nullah, and charged 30 Boers whom we captured. Afterwards when in the rear of Rifles M.I., we were rushed by 300 Boers and had to retire 800 yards in rear and successfully held ridge. Corporal Franklin shot through the neck and carried him in 12 miles. Mr. McLaghlin shot though the leg, also came with us.’

And by way of confirming his part in Franklin’s rescue, the front cover and one page of the pocket diary are stained with his blood - Valpy’s accompanying inscriptions refer. Both McLaghlin and Franklin appear to have survived, though the former’s wounds were described as ‘severe’ and the latter’s as ‘dangerous’.

Valpy advanced to Lance-Sergeant in August 1902, and was discharged, 8 March 1904, having served 8 years and 152 days with the Colours.

N. Valpy was the son of the above.