Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major E. J. Burgess, 1st South African Infantry, late Rand Rifles, a veteran of the German South-West Africa campaign 1914, who was wounded at Delville Wood in July 1916 and awarded an M.C. for the German Spring Offensive in 1918

1914-15 Star (Capt., Rand Rifles); British War and Bi-lingual Victory Medals (Major), extremely fine (3) £200-300

Edwin John Burgess served in German South-West Africa 1914-15 as a Rifleman in the Rand Rifles, being commissioned just prior to the end of the campaign.

Appointed a Lieutenant in the 1st South African Infantry in September 1915, he was embarked for Egypt in January 1916, and, in the following April, for France, gaining advancement to Temporary Captain in the following month. Subsequently engaged in the operations on the Somme, and more specifically at Delville Wood, he received a gunshot wound in the head while serving in ‘C’ Company on 18 July, and was evacuated to England.

Theron returned to France in June 1917, was appointed to the command of ‘D’ Company and won his M.C. for great bravery during the German Spring Offensive:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a withdrawal, he collected about sixty men, formed a rearguard, and maintained his position against heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, although nearly surrounded by the enemy, and then successfully withdrew. Later, he again collected stragglers and formed a defensive flank, when the enemy, advancing in large numbers, threatened to envelope the left flank. Throughout three days’ retirement he showed wonderful skill and daring’ (London Gazette 26 July 1918 refers).

Soon afterwards, in April 1918, Theron was again wounded, this time by gunshots to his right hand and leg. Reported as dangerously ill at No. 1 Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet on the 10th, he was evacuated to England. He was finally discharged as medically unfit in February 1920, having attained the rank of Major in March 1919.

Withdrawn