The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (1106 Pte. G. C. Grimsdale, C.I.V.) good very fine £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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George Charles Grimsdale was born in Clapham, London in 1875 and joined the Civil Service as a Boy Clerk. He joined the 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Rifle Volunteers on 26 March 1896 and served in South Africa as a marksman with the Infantry Battalion of the City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War. Remaining with his volunteer unit as a Lieutenant and a noted shot, in 1911 he was employed as a a Customs and Excise Officer with the Civil Service and after the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in his volunteer unit’s successor, the 1/15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles). Later promoted Captain, he died on 8 March 1924.

The following interesting article, regarding the recipient’s gun-metal watch, inscribed ‘Pte. G. C. Grimsdale, 4th January 1900’, found on Diamond Hill during the Boer War, appeared in the Buckinghamshire Examiner on 4 December 1936:
‘Found During South African War - A Watch Restored to Owner’s Relations - Recently we mentioned that the late Mr. David Darvell, at one time a prominent footballer in Chesham, had a watch which he found in South Africa during the war there. His relatives, anxious to trace the owner, communicated with our representative, and through the Press the previous owner, now unfortunately dead, has been traced.
Mr. W. Darvell, of Chesham, has received the following letter from Mr. Derek J. R. Coles, of 40, Cresswell Road, Twickenham, Middlesex:
“Thanks to your kindness, I have today received the watch lost by my late brother-in-law, George Charles Grimsdale, and have, as you requested, acknowledged its receipt to Mrs. David Darvell.
As you have taken so much trouble, it may be of interest to you to know that the Regiment in which ‘Grimmy’ (as he was known to all his friends) served in South Africa, The Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Volunteer Rifles, 12th Middlesex Volunteers, later became the 15th County of London Regiment, Civil Service Rifles, and that when war broke out in 1914, both ‘Grimmy’ and myself joined up in it, he as a second lieutenant, and I as a private. He was twice severely wounded, but we both managed to survive the Great War, and although a fine athlete he was taken off suddenly in 1924. The watch is, therefore a real link with the past.’