Single Campaign Medals

India General Service Medal (1895) clasp Relief of Chitral 1895

Sergt J Smith Tel Dept

Sergeant James Smith (Indian Unattached List) Bengal Command.

Awarded the India General Service Medal (1854) clasp Hazara 1888 for services with the Government Telegraph Department TNA WO100/75 page 272.

Awarded the clasp Samana 1891 for services with the Government Telegraph Department TNA WO100/75 page 406.

Awarded the India General Service Medal (1895) clasp Relief of Chitral 1895, this Medal is correctly named in the engraved running script, the roll for the Government Telegraph Department does not appear to have survived. This man could be Lieutenant James Combie Smith, Indian European Telegraph Department and Assistant Superintendent of Telegraphs who served in the First World War (British War and Victory Medals).

NEF £250 Available

Queen’s Sudan Medal 1896-98

4569 Pte R Downes 1/North’d Fus

With copy research.

4569 Private R Downes 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action Hannah’s Post 31st March 1900.

Also entitled to the Khedives Sudan Medal clasp Khartoum TNA WO100/80 page 454 refers and the Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps Belmont, Modder River, Paardeburg, Driefontein and Relief of Kimberley, the Medal roll records this Medal was returned 20th February 1908 TNA WO100/169 page 24 refers.

From: The St George’s Gazette 31st May 1900 page 75

‘At Zwartskopjefontein we got the dreadful news of Major Booth’s death, that Mr Hall had again been wounded, and Mr Toppin (both Lieutenants) taken prisoner. We also heard that Corporal Sinclair had been killed; and Private Downes, and the following wounded………..’

The following is an extract from a letter from Lieutenant Buckley who was present at the fight at Sanna (sic) Post –

‘Apparently Hall, Booth and Toppin with some eleven or twelve men were holding on tenaciously as rearguard let the Mounted Infantry get away, the others retired so slowly that Booth and his party found the enemy coming on so close that they were firing on each other for some time at 200 yards range, the firing was awfully hot and Hall was soon knocked over, but not before he had fired over 200 rounds himself (from a Maxim Gun). When Hall came to, he found the Boers among them, and the firing had ceased. Booth was shot whilst endeavouring to get his handkerchief out, for they had expended all their ammunition. Toppin and Lance Corporal Raynham were the only men of the party not wounded. Private Downes was killed and all the rest taken prisoner. Corporal Sinclair died of wounds 2nd April at Bloemfontein’.

From: The St George’s Gazette 30th April 1900 page 50

Downes – On the 31st ult, killed in action at Sanna’s (sic) Post near Bloemfontein Waterworks. No 4509 Private B Downes 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.

Conan Doyle wrote: ‘Among many brave men who died, non was greater loss to the Service than Major Booth of the Northumberland Fusiliers, serving with the Mounted Infantry. With four comrades he held a position to cover the retreat, and refused to leave it’.

One slight edge dig otherwise

NEF £450 Available

Campaign Service Medal E2 clasp Northern Ireland

24152958 Cpl N J Larner ACC

The Medal mounted as originally worn.

In named card box of issue.

Service number indicates 1969 enlistment.

First time on the market.

Dark toned NEF £68 Reserved

South Africa Medal 1853 (The Frontier Wars between 1834 and 1853)

J Woodcraft 45th Regt

With original ribbon and buckle brooch for wearing, complete with pin and catch.

With details here extracted from his online service record and other online records.

John Woodcraft was born in St Saviour, Norwich, Norfolk an 18 year 7 month old Labourer he originally attested for the 30th Regiment of Foot (Number 1680) at Norwich 25th September 1839. An habitual offender, he was first tried and imprisoned 6th to 17th November 1840. Volunteering for the 45th Regiment of Foot 1st April 1842 he served with this Regiment at the Cape of Good Hope for 15 years 10 months including the Kaffir War of 1850-53. Discharged at his own request upon the conditions prescribed by the Royal Warrants and War Office Regulations of 1st July 1848, free with pension authority dated Horse Guards 7th March 1861. On discharge his Commanding Officer recorded his Conduct was Very Good, he is in possession of one Good Conduct Badge also a Medal for service in the Kaffir War 1850-53 (sic). (The regiment and saw action in the Seventh Xhosa War in 1846 and the Eighth Xhosa War in 1851 before returning home in 1859). He has been forty times entered in the Regimental Defaulter’s Book and three times tried by Court Martial. Discharge date 26th March 1861 having completed 21 years and 88 days service, intended place of residence – Norwich, Norfolk. The 1861 census records John is an Army pensioner residing as a lodger at St Mary in the Marsh, Norfolk, the 1871 census records he is an Army pensioner residing as a lodger in Elm Hill, Norwich. John married Emily Caroline Silvey a School Mistress at the Parish Church, Catton, Norfolk on 2nd September 1873 (age 52). The 1881 census records John is now 60 years old and working as a  Starch Mill Labourer residing with his wife (56) at Chapel Loke, Hall Road, Lakenham, Norfolk. John died in Lakenham in 1902 age 81 years.

From: The Eastern Daily Press 16th June 1902 page 6

The Royal Norfolk Veteran’s Association has once more lost its oldest member (John Woodcraft), and the present honour of being the oldest veteran in Norfolk now falls , we believe, to a Norwich sailor W Skoyles, late Royal Navy, who enlisted in November 1843 and served for fourteen years . Like John Woodcraft , he holds the Medal for the Kaffir War of 1848. (Able Seaman William Skoyles served aboard HMS Castor).

Dark toned GVF £625 SOLD

Crimea Medal 1854-56 clasp Sebastopol

Unnamed as issued to Royal Navy and Royal Marines

The Sebastopol clasp sewn onto ribbon

GVF £165 SOLD