Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private P. O. Rosebrook, South African Motor Cycle Corps, late 11th Rand Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (Pte., 11th Infantry); British War and Bi-lingual Victory Medals (Pte., S.A.M.C.C.), together with a City of Johannesburg Railways “Tribute to Our Pioneers” commemorative medallion 1886-1966, silver, the obverse field engraved ‘Percy Rosebrook, 1898’, nearly extremely fine (4) £100-120

Otto Percy Rosebrook served in German South-West Africa with the 11th Rand Light Infantry from October 1914 until July 1915. One of the regiment’s officers, Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Fairweather, later formed the South African Motor Cycle Corps, a unit largely comprised of railwaymen, and Rosebrook was among the first to join its strength - it was equipped with B.S.A. motor cycles, which carried an average weight of 140lb. of kit besides the rider. He subsequently served in German East Africa, but was invalided to Durban with malaria at the end of 1916 and, after long periods in hospital, was discharged as unfit for further duty in August 1917. His old C.O., Fairweather, was killed by sniper fire near Milow, German East Africa, in February 1917, having won a D.S.O.