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Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (6) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, South Africa 1901. 16. L.Cpl. M.J.Coffee S.A.M.R. Engraved. Suspension repaired.

Described as:

Lance Corporal (Orderly Clerk) later Corporal Maurice James Coffey 2nd (Mounted Rifles) Contingent; contingent comprised 7 officers and 112 other ranks; Maurice (Morris) James Coffey (Coffee), clerk in Lands & Income Tax Dept, age 30, born at North Adelaide, Sth Aust; volunteered for 1st Contingent but accepted for 2nd Contingent; Emb.29Mar1900; involved in various battles and skirmishes; RTA 03Nov1900; Disemb.01May1901 at Sydney and overland to Adelaide via Melbourne arriving 12May1901; Disbanded 15May1901.

Maurice James Coffey served in WWI enlisting under the name Morris James Coffey in the Light Horse reinforcements and rising to the rank of Lieutenant in 10 Battalion. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers on 1 October 1920 and to the Retired List on 9 December 1930. He died on 20 November 1940. For his WWI service he qualified for the standard WWI trio of medals. On his enlistment papers he stated that his father had served with the 14th Regiment of Foot (Buckinghamshire Regiment) in the Maori War 1860-66. In his service file there are details of his four brothers:- 760 Pte Louis Johnstone Coffey, 43Bn, KIA 10Jun1917 in Belgium; 2341 Pte Sylvester Plunkett Coffey 32Bn (deceased); 2482 Pte Edward Daly Coffey 5 Pnr Bn (died 1921 of TB); Arthur Thomas Coffey enlisted as 33625 Gnr Arthur Everard 2 FArty Bde (died in 1938). With research, photocopy of unit photo featuring Maurice Coffey and 'Breaker' Morant and copy of unit medal roll.