Auction Catalogue

17 September 2004

Starting at 11:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

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

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Lot

№ 973

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17 September 2004

Hammer Price:
£650

Six: Captain A. Bruce, Royal Scots, late The Buffs

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Malakand 1897, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (4782 Pte., 1st Bn. The Buffs), unofficial connection between first and second clasps; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (4782 Corpl., E. Kent Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); Mercantile Marine Medal, erased naming, worn from the Territorial Force War Medal ribbon, mounted as worn; Defence 1939-45, good very fine and better (6) £240-280

Alfred Bruce was born on 26 November 1877 in Bow, London. A carpenter by trade, he entered the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) in 1895, aged 18 years, having previously served in the 1st Renfrew and Dumbarton Volunteers. With the regiment he served in India between February 1897 and February 1902 and was awarded the I.G.S. Medal with the clasp for the Punjab Frontier 1897-98. Service in South Africa followed during March-June 1902 for which he was awarded the Queen’s medal with two clasps. He was discharged in 1907 having completed his period of engagement. In the Great War, as Sergeant Major in the 16th Royal Scots he applied for a commission and was granted the rank of Lieutenant in April 1915 and Captain in June 1915 with the 17th Royal Scots. With them he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 31 January 1916.

He returned home later in 1916 suffering from appendicitis and neurasthenia; a casualty report dated April 1918 states ‘he was blown up twice in 1916’. He returned to the front in 1918 with the 12th Royal Scots but was unable resume front-line duties as he ‘appeared to be very nervous, the noise of guns or explosion of shells rendered him quite incapable of performing duty in the line.’ In the latter part of 1918 and in to 1919 he served in the 1st Divisional Recuperation Camp. In the Second World War he resumed military service, being appointed Second Lieutenant in the 4th City of Aberdeen Battalion of the Home Guard on 1 February 1941.

Sold with the recipient’s riband bar and identity disk and three lockets, one gold and inscribed, ‘Capt. A. Bruce, 17th Royal Scots from Nellie’. Also sold with recipient’s Commission document for the rank of Lieutenant dated April 1915, Army Book 439, Farrow Bank receipt book, signed plans of a ‘Traverser’, two photographs and a quantity of copied service papers. See also lot 1433 for the recipient’s service sword.