TOPIC:

After seeing Tims remark below.....

Makes me wonder as all of the following were as far as I know from South Africa, could they be related.....

MOSS, J. Jr.

REG. NO.: 95
RANK: TROOPER
REGT: NESBITTS HORSE
BARS: CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902

MOSS P. R.

REG. NO.: 3744
RANK: PRIVATE
REGT: CAPE MOUNTED RIFLES
BARS: CAPE COLONY

MOSS, W.

REG. NO.: 40
RANK: TROOPER
REGT: FORT BEAUFORT, DISTRICT MOUNTED TROOPS
BARS: NO BARS AS ISSUED

The very first post in this thread contained a picture of Lt Well, JMR. That was 10 years ago.

The group is coming up at auction next month.


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Coronation 1902, silver, unnamed as issued;
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Wepener, Wittebergen, Belfast (Lieutenant C. Wells. Johannesburg M.R.);
KSA (2) (Lieut. C. Wells. J’burg M.R.);
AGS 1902 (1) N. Nigeria 1903 (Lieut. C. L. Wells. 2nd N.N. Regt.)

DNW April 2001 £2,000
DNW December 2012 £4,400

Charles Lionell Wells was present at Wepener as a Trooper in the Cape Mounted Rifles and was subsequently appointed to a commission in the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. He was dangerously wounded near Driefontein on 1 May 1901 and was Mentioned in Despatches ‘For dash and judgement in attack on position at Waterval on 10 September, 1901’ (London Gazette 3 December 1901).

Wells received a commission in the Regular Army as Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, on 28 August 1902, becoming Lieutenant on 6 April 1903. He was attached to the North Nigeria Regiment and took part in the Kano-Sokoto campaign, January-July 1903, and was Mentioned in Despatches for his part in the action at Kotorokoshi which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Wallace Wright, The Queen’s Regiment. The London Gazette of 31 July 1903 states: ‘Lieutenant W. D. Wright, with Lieutenant C. L. Wells and 45 men of the Mounted Infantry left on the 24th, reaching Korokoshi on the 25th. He there came into contact with and was charged by the advance party of the enemy coming down the road from Kaura but routed them with the loss of 40 killed and numerous prisoners. Continuing his advance towards Rawia he was riding up to a Chief who apparently wished to surrender, when he was suddenly charged from an ambuscade by about 30 horsemen, who broke through his men but were repulsed with a loss of 5 killed. Lieut. Wright was informed by his scouts at 8 a.m. that the enemy were advancing in force. He immediately formed square round his horses held by his carriers and prisoners. The enemy in great numbers charged the square repeatedly for two hours. At 10 a.m. the enemy drew off leaving 65 horsemen dead within 30 yards of the square, 11 of them being recognised as principal chiefs of Kano... Lieutenant Wright makes special mention of the assistance he received from Lieutenant C. L. Wells, 3rd Hampshire Regiment, who between enemy charges, was employed in cutting down thorn bushes to form a zariba outside the square.’

The group to Lt Wells sold for a hammer price of GBP 2,800. Total GBP 3,606.4. R 75,380. AUD 6,080. NZD 6,680. CAD 5,620. USD 4,190. EUR 3,910

We last saw the QSA to Pte Breffit, in late 2021 at Noble Numismatics.

It appears in the Noonan's sale next week.


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (966 Pte. G. Breffit. Kaffrn: Rifles) first two letters of surname double-struck, minor edge bruising

George Henry Breffit was born in Cressbrook, Derbyshire, in 1860 ands emigrated to South Africa in 1893. He served with the Kaffrarian Rifles during the Boer War.

In a letter to his sister, published in the Derbyshire Times on 1 September 1900, he wrote: ‘I have seen plenty of fighting, from Aliwal North to Rouxville, and to Wepener on 5 April.’ He was actively involved in the siege of Wepener and it is well described in the letter. He finishes his letter by mentioning that after the siege he was involved in two small skirmishes and a further five weeks of patrolling.

Breffit's medal sold yesterday for a hammer price of GBP 600. Totals: GBP 773. R 16,810. AUD 1,380. NZD 1,500. CAD 1,250. USD 930. EUR 840

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (2431 Corpl: A. T. Kent. Cape. M.R.), heavy contact marks, suspension re-affixed, thus fine

Alfred Thomas Kent. Enlisted 2 June 1893. Deserted 8 August 1905. CMR ref DD7/62. KSA returned to depot 22 February 1909