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Pictures courtesy of Liverpool Medals

QSA (1) Belmont (9998 Pte H.W. WHITE, CLDSTM: GDS:)
 
Confirmed on the medal roll, only earning this clasp, as during the battle he was wounded in action on 23rd November 1899, his wounds bad enough that he was swiftly invalided home and later discharged as medically unfit.
 
He had been put down by a Gunshot Wound to the Right Thigh.
 
With copy service papers.
 
A rare casualty, the medal in crisp virtually unworn condition.
  
Henry William White, was born in Broxted, Great Dunmow, Essex, circa 1875.
 
Son of Charles White, of Cherry Green, Broxted, Essex.
 
His father was an Agricultural Labourer, like most of the family including Henry until enlisting. His mother Harriet was a Teacher.
 
He had signed up with the Coldstream Guards on 29th January 1895, aged 20.
 
He saw the following service:
Home, 25th January 1895 – 9th March 1899
Gibraltar, 10th March 1899 – 27th October 1899, shipped over to South Africa
South Africa, 28th October 1899 – 25th December 1899, invalided home after being wounded in action at Belmont.
Home, 26th December 1899 – 20th February 1901, found medically unfit for further service.
 
His service papers noting service in “South Africa 1899” being wounded “At Belmont, 23rd Novr 1899”
 
After some time at home recovering, and with the 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards, he was found “Medically unfit for further service” and discharged on 20th February 1901 in London.
 
His conduct was noted as “Fair” and he intended to return home to Broxted.
 
He died in Dunmow, during 1912, he was only 37.

£595

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Royal Victorian Medal, VR, silver (8095. Sergt. H. Pettit. Coldm. Gds) contemporarily engraved;
QSA (3) Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein (8095 Sejt. H. W. Pettit, Cldstm: Gds:)

Horace William Pettit was born in the Parish of St. Margaret’s, London, around 1874. He attested for the Coldstream Guards on 18 June 1890, and served in South Africa with the 3rd Battalion from 21 October 1899 to 13 August 1900.

Advanced Sergeant, he served as part of the Bearer Party for the funeral of Queen Victoria at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and was personally presented with his Royal Victorian Medal by H.M King Edward VII at Marlborough House on 18 March 1901.

He was subsequently appointed to the Permanent Staff of the School of Instruction on 16 March 1901. His Army Service Record adds: ‘Discharged Sergeant, Medically Unfit, 20.10.1903.’

The pair to Horace William Pettit sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,200. Totals: GBP 1,546. R 35,400. AUD 2,850. NZD 3,040. CAD 2,540. USD 1,870. EUR 1,740