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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (5266. Pte. F. Abel. Rifle Bde.)

F Abel was killed in action at Pieters Hill on 27 February 1900.

Barton's brigade attacked Pieters Hill shortly after noon on 27 February. Behind an early use of the creeping barrage by field artillery pieces as heavy as 4.7-inch naval guns, the 6th Brigade's advance was rapid at first. Then, about 14:00, as the British infantry moved out of artillery observation and Botha reinforced his threatened flank, the attack stalled. The reserve was put in at 14:30 and repulsed due to tough Boer resistance and enfilading fire from Railway Hill to the west.

At 15:00 Colonel Walter Kitchener's 5th Brigade attacked Railway Hill. After working their way slowly uphill, the soldiers carried the nek (saddle) between Hart's and Railway Hills in a brilliant bayonet charge, capturing 48 Boer prisoners. The last to move forward, Major-General Norcott's 4th Brigade, began its assault on Hart's Hill. The close artillery support proved decisive, as trench after trench was overwhelmed by direct fire. A final infantry charge cleared the crest, compelling a Boer retreat. As Botha's men fell back from the heights, the British infantry gave out a cheer.

The QSA to Bugler Moggeridge sold for a hammer price of £600. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £773. R14,500. Au$1,320. Can$1,160. US$910.

Private Abel's medal sold for a hammer price of £1,000. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £1,288. R24,200. Au$2,190. Can$1,930. US$1,510

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Sudan (2291. Pte. J. Coombes. 2/R. Bde:);
QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (2291. Pte. J. Coombes. Rifle Brigade);
KSA (2) (2291 Pte. J. Coombes. Rifle Brigade.);
Natal 1906 (1) (P.O.2 J. A. Coombes, Natal Naval Corps.);
Khedive’s Sudan (1) Khartoum (No. 2291. Pte. J. Coombes. Rifle Brigade.) engraved naming

James A. Coombes (also spelt Coombs) was born in 1874 and attested for the Rifle Brigade in London on 20 April 1892. He served with the 2nd Battalion in the Nile Expedition, and was present at the Battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898; he also took part in he Occupation of Crete that same year.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

[ Queen's Sudan ]
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3166 Pte. W. H. Dickson. Rifle Brig.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (3166 Pte. W. Dickson. Rifle Brigade.)
[ Khedive Sudan (1) Khartoum ]

William Henry Dickson was born at Poplar, Middlesex and enlisted into the Rifle Brigade at Woolwich, on 10 March 1894, declaring prior service with the Medical Staff Corps, Militia, at the age of 20 and eight months. He served overseas in Malta, Egypt, South Africa, India and Aden. He served in the Nile Expedition 1898.

He was discharged on 9 March 1906, at Devonport.

QSA (7) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, named in sloping serif upper and lower case style (1771 Pte. G. Sibley. Rifle Bde.)

London Coins, September 2022. Hammer price £320.

From the next Mowbray Collectables auction.

QSA (1) Defence of Ladysmith (6121 PTE T. BESWICK, RIFLE BRIGADE.)

Described as:

Thomas Beswick was killed in action at Surprise Hill, Ladysmith on 11 Dec 1899. He was with the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Bridge in an action led by R.E. Digby-Jones VC where a 4.7 inch Boer howitzer was blown up. He & the other 10 men who were killed are commemorated on a Ladysmith monument.