Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (3934 Pte. W. Baker, Oxford: Lt. Inft.) extremely fine £300-£360

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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Private W. Baker was killed in action at Gottenburg on 1 December 1900.

The following extract is taken from the Regimental Chronicle for 1900:

‘Writing on the 7th December, an officer of the Regiment says:- “One day last week, one of our small posts, five miles from Gottenburg, got into a mess. Four men went out from camp to collect fuel, and apparently strayed too far, being suddenly surrounded and fired on, with the result that one man was killed [Baker] and the other three were taken prisoners. The subaltern at the next post, hearing of it, went off, with 15 men, to the rescue, but met with a warm reception, having four men wounded and four missing. The Boers sent back one of our men to have the wounded taken away, which was done - one poor chap was hit in three places. Two days later the three prisoners turned up, having been released; but we have not heard anything of the four missing men.” (They eventually came in to Frankfort, 30 miles from Heilbron). Sold with a small photograph copied from the Chronicle.