Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major T. J. Turpin, Canadian Army Service Corps, late Royal Canadian Regiment, who served during the Boer War as Colonel Sam Hughes’ batman, and was part of the Canadian Contingent for the Coronation of King George V in 1911

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, last clasp a tailor’s copy, unofficially affixed (7557 Pte. T. J. Turpin, Rl. Candn: Regt.); Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; together with an erased 1914-15 Star; an erased British War Medal 1914-20; and an erased Victory Medal 1914-19, good very fine (5) £120-£160

Thomas John Turpin was born in Coburg, Ontario, on 12 August 1880, and served with the Royal Canadian Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War from October 1899 to October 1900, as the batman to Colonel Sam Hughes, the Canadian politician who served as Cabinet Minister of Militia and Defence during the Great War. Discharged upon the completion of his period of limited engagement, he subsequently re-enlisted in the 3rd Dragoons, and arrived with them in South Africa as the Boer War ended- although not entitled to the Transvaal clasp he perhaps added it to his medal as he felt that he deserved another clasp for his efforts! He enlisted next in the Royal Canadian Artillery, and was part of the Canadian Contingent at the coronation of H.M. King George V in 1911. He saw further service during the Great War with the Canadian Army Service Corps on the Western Front from 10 February 1915, and was advanced Major. He died in Coburg, Ontario, on 10 October 1943.

Sold with a large quantity of copied research.