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From the next Mowbray Collectables auction.

QSA (2) Belmont, Modder River (2775 PTE S. BASFORD, 2ND NORTHAMPTON REGT.)

Samuel Basford (1872 - 1937) enlisted in the Northampton Regt in early 1890, invalided back to England.

Verified on WO100/193p8.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, unofficial rivets between second and third clasps (4005 Serjt: A. G. Joiner., 2/E. Surrey Rgt.);
KSA (2) (Lt. A. G. Joiner Nthptn. Rgt.);
[ 1914 Star ];
BWM (Capt. A. G. Joiner.)
[ VM ]

Together with a related group of five miniature awards additionally including a 1914 Star with clasp and a Victory Medal.

Arthur George Joiner attested for the East Surrey Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Northamptonshire Regiment in July 1900. He took part in the Relief of Ladysmith, including the action at Colenso; the operations of 17 to 24 January 1900, and the action at Spion Kop; the operations of 5 to 7 February 1900, and the action at Vaal Kranz; the operations on the Tugela Heights, and the action at Pieters Hill; and operations in the Transvaal. He was employed as a Railway Staff Officer from 4 October to 19 November 1901, and for his services was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 8 February 1901).

Joiner saw further service with the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 August 1914, and was advanced Major.

Sold with an empty Princess Mary 1914 Christmas Tin.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5945 Pte. H. Lloyd, 2nd Northampton Regt);
KSA (2) (5945 Pte. H. Lloyd, Northampton: Regt).

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

[ IGS 1895 (3) ];
QSA (4) Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2759 Cpl. A. Sanders. Nthptn: Regt.)

QSA verified on WO100/193p77. A note days 'released on payment 5 Oct 1911', presumably a re-issued QSA?

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5488 Pte. J. Smith, 2: Nthptn: Regt.)

John Lewis, alias John Smith, was born in London on 6 January 1885. His military service trail is particularly complicated, but he attested for the Northamptonshire Regiment when aged around 14 years and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa, recorded on the rolls as entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal, with clasps for Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State and Transvaal, and the King’s South Africa Medal with the two date clasps.

Returning home to England, Smith attested for Royal Marines on 11 August 1902 (No. 11716), spending a short time at Deal before joining the Plymouth Division on 30 April 1903. Noted as ‘under age’ on his Service Record, his conduct was rated as ‘good’ at 18 years of age, but he fell from grace in April 1904 when he was convicted by District Court Martial of theft and dismissed. Fuelled by anger and feelings of unfairness, Smith returned to London and was immediately caught in the act of attempting to rob a lady in one of the wealthiest parts of the West End.

The Daily Telegraph & Courier of 13 April 1904 describes the scene:

‘Dismissed with Ignominy,

John Lewis, alias Smith, a young man, formerly in the Royal Marine Light Infantry from which he was dismissed with ignominy, was again charged, at Westminster, with snatching a purse, containing between £3 and £4, from Lady Blanche Humphreys of Thurloe-square, S.W., at Brompton-road. Lady Humphreys was out shopping, and prisoner suddenly rushed at her and snatched at her satchel containing her purse. The chain broke, and he ran off, but a young man pursued and handed him over to the police. Prisoner, in an insolent manner in court, said he considered he had as much right to the property as the lady, as she did not earn it.

Detective-sergeant Ferrett said prisoner had three years’ penal servitude for striking his superior officer and for insubordination whilst in the service. His character was described as very bad, but he had most artfully written over and cleverly altered his discharge certificate by erasure and addition so that it read “conduct exemplary”.’

The above reference to altering his discharge certificate is confirmed in the recipient’s R.M.L.I. service papers. Equally, both rolls for the Boer War Medals confirm their forfeiture, and that for the KSA dated 4 June 1908. As one might expect, the QSA was never returned to the military authorities - indeed, the reliable trail for John Smith or John Lewis goes somewhat cold. Recorded as homeless in the Fulham Chronicle on 15 April 1904, it seems likely that the recipient was repeatedly admitted to various London workhouses between 1907 and 1913, based upon the records of a John Lewis, born in 1885, London.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

IGS 1895 (3) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (3086 Pte. L. Thurgood. 1st. Bn. North’n Regt) with official corrections;
QSA (4) Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3086 Pte. L. Thurgood, 2: Nthptn: Regt.);
KSA (2) (3086 Serjt: W [sic]. Thurgood. Northampton: Regt.)