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What attracted me to this chap's medal was his surname which, whilst not unique, is unusual. I was, moreover, very pleased when it arrived as it contained an original invoice for the medal in an envelope from the Auctioneers, Gorringe's dated 12/03/1991 in an amount (buyer's VAT included) of 47.59 GBP - considerably less than what I paid for it!

James Razzell

Private, 4th Battalion, Rifle Brigade – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and South Africa 1902 to 3119 Pte. J. Razzell, Rifle Brigade

James Razzell was born in Croydon, Surrey in 1878 the son of William Razzell, a Labourer, and his wife Ellen. We encounter a 2 year old James for the first time at his baptism in the District of St. James on 25 August 1878. A mere two years later at the time of the 1881 England census he was living at 18 Tate Road in Croydon with his parents and older brother Caleb William (5).

Ten years later at the time of the 1891 England census the family had moved to 45 Lahore Road in Croydon. William and James (now12) had been joined in the house by younger siblings Edward (9), Alfred (5) and Charles Henry (1). Parent William senior was now earning a living as a Coal Porter.

Three years later an 18 year old Razzell completed the Attestation Forms for 7 years’ service with the Colours (and 5 with the Reserve) at Croydon on 13 February 1894. Claiming to be a member of the 3rd Battalion, West Surrey Regiment he was a Labourer by occupation and was, physically, 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 120 pounds and had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. By way of distinguishing marks about his person he had a mole on the left side of his abdomen as well as a mole on the upper part of his left groin. He also had dots on both forearms and a mole on his left collar bone.

Having been passed as a Fit for the Army he was assigned no. 3119 and the rank of Private with the Medical Doctor stating that he was “likely to become an efficient soldier”.

A member of the 4th battalion, Rifle Brigade Razzell was sent to the Depot initially. His superiors must have recognised potential with a promotion to Acting Corporal coming his way on 16 December 1895 but, for an undisclosed reason, Razzell elected to revert to the ranks on 23 March 1896 – three months after being appointed.

October 1899 saw the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War in distant South Africa. Here two autonomous Boer Republics pitted themselves against the might of the British Empire enjoying, it has to be said, initial successes which stunned the British public as well as the Military Authorities. Razzell’s battalion was home-based during the first phase of the conflict and it was only on 16 December 190, 7 years 306 days since he had enlisted; that he was sent to South Africa. At this stage of the war the Boers were being, ever increasingly, driven into a corner from where it was hoped that they would be caught leading to their surrender. Things weren’t going to plan though – small and highly mobile Boer Commandos littered the countryside and were quick to attack isolated patrols and insufficiently protected lines of communication before galloping off into the sunset.

But there was one other small matter which demanded his attention before he sailed – that of his marriage in Dublin South where he was stationed to Florence Elizabeth Bailey in late 1901.

The 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade arrived during this impasse with the Infantry section holding the lines whilst the mounted section took part in the drives mentioned beforehand.

Returning home to England on 16 August 1902, almost three months after peace was declared, Razzell spent another 3 years 181 days in the Reserve before completing his initial obligation of 12 years’ service on 12 February 1906. For his efforts in South Africa he received the Queen’s Medal with clasps.

We rely on the 1911 England census to track Razzell’s further movements; according to the census a 32 year old Razzell was a Platelayer by occupation with the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. He had two children, 8 year old Florence (named after her mother) and 7 year old James (after himself)

James Razzell passed away in North East Surrey in the first quarter of 1949 at the age of 71.

Very nice, QSA's really were cheap in those days, it seems so long ago now, sadly, times have changed with the market being driven from it's top end.