Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private William Mears, 7th and 14th Hussars

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Mashonaland 1897 (3844 Pte. W. Mears. 7th Huss.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (223, Pte. W. Mears, 14/Hrs.) the first with contact marks, nearly very fine, the second good very fine (2) £600-£700

Provenance: Gordon Everson Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2002.

William Mears was born at Hackney, London, and enlisted for the 15th Hussars at London on 27 February 1891. He transferred to the 7th Hussars in August 1892, and served with them during the Mashonaland operations of 1897, being one of only 16 men of the regiment to get the medal with this reverse. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in December 1898, but was recalled for service in the Boer War and posted to the 14th Hussars in January 1900. Private Mears was dangerously wounded in the fierce action at Geluk, between Machadodorp and Heidelberg, on 13 October 1900. Interestingly, the regimental history lists Mears as having been mortally wounded, and in two places on his discharge papers the words “Killed in action” have been crossed out. Major E. D. Brown was awarded the Victoria Cross at this action for rescuing, one after another, an officer, a sergeant, and a corporal. Private Mears was sent home in January 1901, and was discharged as medically unfit for further service on 6 August 1901. He died in 1934.