Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Four: Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant A. G. Mackie, Royal Horse Artillery

Ashanti Star 1896; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, 1898, 1897-98 (41945 Bty.-Qr.-Mr.-Serjt., R.H.A.) the second clasp unofficially attached by wire loops; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (41495 B.Q.M. Serjt., ‘O’ Bty. R.H.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (41945 B. Qr.-Mr.-Sjt., R.H.A.) together with an original portrait photograph, nearly very fine or better and a rare group (4) £700-900

Alexander Gowans Mackie was born at Woolwich, Kent, in January 1870, and joined the Royal Artillery as a boy at Hilsea on 26 March 1884. He was appointed Trumpeter in October 1885 and embarked for India where, in August 1888, he transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery. He returned to England in November 1889 and by March 1894 had risen through the ranks to become a Sergeant. As one of a few Gunners selected for Special Service, he took part in the Ashanti campaign of 1895-96 (14 R.A. and 4 R.H.A. took part).

In 1898 he was seconded for service with the Royal Niger Company Forces under the Colonial Government on the West Coast of Africa, where he took part in the expeditions into the hinterland of Lagos from February 1898 and with the force under Lieutenant-Colonel J. Willcocks in Borga until November 1898 (Medal with clasps ‘1897-98’ and ‘1898’).

In January 1900 he was promoted to Battery Quarter Master Sergeant of No. 4 Ammunition Column, serving in South Africa with the Cavalry Brigade. He was present at the actions around Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast, and in operations in Cape Colony and the Orange Free State. In November of that year he was posted to ‘O’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, and remained in South Africa until October 1902, when he returned to England and was discharged on 7 December. Sold with copy service papers which confirm all medals and clasps.