Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Driefontein (5738 T. Holt, R.M, H.M.S. Powerful) last clasp loose on ribbon, very fine and rare £1,400-£1,800

One of 16 7-clasp Medals issued to H.M.S. Powerful’s crew, all Royal Marines. Two further Privates received medals with 8 clasps.

Thomas Holt was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, on 5 January 1873, and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry in Liverpool in September 1891. Having joined H.M.S. Powerful in September 1899, he was landed with the Naval Brigade in South Africa and was taken prisoner at at Roodeval on 7 June 1900. Holt was discharged ashore ‘time expired’ in October 1913 but did not qualify for the L.S. & G.C. medal having been charged with desertion in 1894. Sold with copied record of service which confirms medal and clasps.