Auction Catalogue

6 July 2004

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 829

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6 July 2004

Hammer Price:
Withdrawn

A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant E. R. Begley, 2nd South African Infantry: a veteran of the German South-West Africa campaign in 1914, and the Somme offensive in July 1916, he was severely wounded by machine-gun fire near Arras in April 1917

Military Cross, G.V.R., in its case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Pte., 5th Infantry); British War and Bi-lingual Victory Medals (Lt.), extremely fine (4) £600-800

M.C. London Gazette 15 October 1918.

‘For conspicuous gallantry and initiative. When the objective had been reached he moved forward with a patrol towards an enemy strong point, which he captured in spite of heavy machine-gun fire, taking six machine-guns and 40 prisoners. Our flank, which had been held up by this strong point, was then able to advance and conform to line.’

Ernest Rupert Begley, who was born in January 1893 and came from Newlands in Cape Town, joined the 2nd South African Infantry from the Kaffrarian Rifles, in September 1915, aged 22 years, having already seen active service in the German South-West Africa operations in 1914.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in August 1916, having participated in the Somme operations of the previous month, Begley was severely wounded near Arras on 2 April 1917, while ‘trying to advance against the Germans in an attack on the chemical works ... being struck by a shell [machine-gun bullet] in the region of the left knee. Was in hospital in France and at 4th London General Hospital. Wound was twice opened to clean it out. The upper end of the fibula was fractured.’

By August 1917 he was recuperating at Officers’ Hospital at Caxton Hall, Cheshire, where in the same month a Medical Board found that the wound had healed, but that there was ‘a long scar tender on pressure’ and that Begley tired ‘easily on exertion causing pain and stiffness of knee and ankle: 21 days leave.’

Having served as an instructor at a “Bombing Course”, Begley returned to France in April 1918, served there as a Company Commander and Temporary Captain and was awarded his M.C. for the operations around Meterer in July 1918. He was released from military duties back in Cape Town in July 1919.

Withdrawn