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Pictures courtesy of Aubrey's

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (5180 Cpl. E. J. Jones, Middlesex Regt.);
KSA (2) (5180 Serjt. E. Jones, Middlesex Regt.).

QSA naming



KSA naming



Sold for a hammer price of GBP 160. Totals (VAT UK only): GBP 218. R4,800. Au$420. Can$390. US$280.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

SAGS (1) 1879 (Lieut: G. R. Rushbrooke. R.E. Mid: Mil:);
QSA (1) Cape Colony (Lt. Col. G. R. Rushbrooke. Middx Rgt.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (Lt. Col. G. R. Rushbrooke. Middx. Rgt.) engraved naming, mounted from a contemporary wearing bar

Gerard Robert Rushbrooke was born in the Parish of St. Mary, Bury St. Edmunds, in 1859, the fifth child of William H. Rushbrooke, Mayor of Bury St. Edmunds and Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Appointed Second Lieutenant in the Royal East Middlesex Militia on 30 July 1877, he was advanced Lieutenant 24 July 1878 and served in South Africa during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Returned home per the steamship Warwick Castle, the passenger list adds: ‘Lieut. Rushbrooke, attached to 24th Regt.’

Appointed Captain on 30 April 1881 and Honorary Lieutenant Colonel on 28 April 1899, Rushbrooke went with the 6th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment to South Africa in February 1900 as second in command under Colonel George Helme; disembarking at Cape Town 16 March 1900, the 25 officers and 512 other ranks of the 6th Middlesex were immediately sent to Piquetberg Road to prevent the North Western Rebellion from spreading south into Cape Colony. When the crisis was over, the battalion moved to Green Point, Cape Town, on 29 May 1900 to guard the Boer prisoners of war being held there. Later, detachments were sent to Karoo Point, Gydo Pass, Wellington, Porterville, Waterfall and Brede River bridges to guard lines of communication and sites of strategic importance. It was at about this time that Rushbrooke was listed in the Morning Leader on 15 November 1900, having been ‘discharged to duty from hospital.’

Returned to barracks at Mill Hill, Rushbrooke took his retirement in August 1908. He died a short time later on 29 March 1911 at Cosford House, Surrey, and was buried with military honours at Thursley, his funeral being attended by Viscount and Vicountess Colville and led by pallbearers of the 6th Middlesex Regiment.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2323 Sgt. A. Andrews. Middx. Regt.);
KSA (2) (2323 Clr.:-Serjt: A. G. Andrews. Middlesex Regt.);
1914-15 Star (G-1169. S.Mjr. A. G. Andrews. Middx. R.);
British War and Victory Medals (G-1169 W.O.Cl.1. A. G. Andrews. Midd’x R.);
Army LS&GC Ed VII (2323 Clr: Sjt: A. G. Andrews. Middx: Regt.)

Alfred George Andrews was born in Pimlico in 1869 and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Hounslow on 8 December 1887. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, Andrews served in South Africa from 20 October 1899 to 15 February 1903, and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 29 July 1902).

Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity in April 1906, he served during the Great War as a Sergeant Major on the Western Front from 1 September 1915, and was appointed to a commission in the Middlesex Regiment on 10 July 1916. Posted to the Eastern Command Labour Centre as Captain, it appears that he spent the remainder of the Great War on home service.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5673 Pte. J. Pring. Middlesex Regt.);
1914-15 Star (L-5673 Sjt. J. Pring, Middx. R.);
British War and Victory Medals (L-5673 Sjt. J. Pring. Midd’x R.)

Together with a Memorial Plaque (Joseph Pring)

Joseph Pring served in South Africa during the Boer War as Private in the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. He later disembarked in France with the 12th Battalion as Sergeant on 24 July 1915, the recipient’s MIC confirming that he was later discharged.

Noonan's note: Pring appears to have survived the Great War, and according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll of Honour the only Joseph Pring to have died in service in the war was 9446 Cpl. Joseph Pring of the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, who died on 31 October 1914. However, it is possible that he died later, with his death being attributed to the tribulations of War, and it is not unknown in such circumstances for the recipient’s family to have been issued with a Memorial Plaque.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, unofficial rivets between first and second clasps (4643 Cpl. H. Twigg. Middlesex Regt.) initial officially corrected;
KSA (2) (4643 Serjt: H. Twigg. Middlesex Regt.) ;
[ LS&GC GV ]

H. Twigg served during the Boer War with the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. He was later awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity in October 1912, whilst serving as Sergeant Cook.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between second, third, and fourth clasps (3265 Cpl. J. [sic] Whittaker. Middlesex Regt.);
British War and Victory Medals (1287 Sgt. W. F. Whittaker. Midd’x R.);
Army LS*GC Ed VII (3265 Sjt: W. F. Whittaker. Middx: Regt.)

William Frederick Whittaker was born in Bethnal Green in 1871 and enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment at Hounslow on 13 June 1891. Posted as Private to the 1st Battalion, he served in Ireland at Kilkenny and Waterford before being sent to India in 1894. Discharged as Corporal 13 June 1898, he was soon recalled to Army Service 13 November 1899 and witnessed active service with the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War from 2 December 1899 to 12 February 1901.

Transferring to the 6th Battalion (General Staff), Whittaker was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1911 and served during the Great War overseas from 1916 as Sergeant in the Middlesex Regiment and Labour Corps.