TOPIC:

So...A quick question, if Dix Noonan had recognised the " Spurious" clasp entitlement and included it in it's sale with a footnote stating the fact. Why the sarcastic comment pertaining to Armchair expert regarding Talana? Is that the view of the Ebay seller? Or the auction house? Either way, Forewarned is forearmed.

The new Noonan's site is very different. it feels more dated to me but perhaps because it is new.

I took from the ebay seller that we may be the armchair experts.

djb wrote: I took from the ebay seller that we may be the armchair experts.

Correct.

Unfortunately DNW was down yesterday so I was unable to check this lot.

Medal sold for £480 - just two bidders. I suspect we will soon see this medal again.

Picture courtesy of Warwick and Warwick

QSA 8 clasps Cape Colony, Talana, Tugela Heights, OFS, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (575 Cpl J. Orr Rl Dublin Fus);
[ KSA (2)

Described as:

Professionally mounted within large frame with cap badge and original artwork by RLC representing him in South Africa. With 9 copied pages of service record, James Orr was born in Trin, Co Meath, enlisted 18/3/82 aged 19, tried and reduced in rank on 3 occasions, served South Africa 18/5/97 to 13/11/02, discharged 18/4/04, clasps confirmed but last 2 were issued with KSA.

QSA with 8 clasps sold Spink April 2009.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

[ IGS 1895 (1) RoC ]
QSA (2) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith (7116 Pte. F. Jago. K.R.R.C.)

Born in London, enlisted 1892. Wounded, Ladysmith, 6 January 1900. Invalided 21 March 1900.

QSA (6) inc CC OFS Tr LN. Liverpool June 1986 £78. Spink July 2007 (says officially re-impressed). QSA (2). eBay December20 07 £375.

The Noonan's write-up states:

Frederick John Jago was born in St. Clements Danes, London, in 1873 and attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in London on 13 February 1892. He served with the 1st Battalion in India form 8 December 1893 to 28 December 1896, and took part in the Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895 (Medal with clasp). He saw further service in South Africa from 29 December 1896 to 19 June 1900, and was wounded during the Boer War at Ladysmith on 6 January 1900. He was discharged medically unfit for further service on 18 October 1900, after 8 years and 240 days’ service.

Picture courtesy of the London Medal Company

QSA (6) Talana, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast; (9014 CORPL: C. CRESSWELL. K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (9014 SERJT C.S. CRESSWELL. K.R.R.C);
1914-1915 Star; (9014 C. SJT. C.S. CRESSWELL. K.R.RIF:C.);
British War Medal and Victory Medal; (9014 C. SJT. C.S. CRESSWELL. K.R. RIF. C.)
Defence Medal.

Caleb Stephen Cresswell was born at Brierley Hill, Dudley near Stafford and attested on 14th May 1895, seeing home service until 23rd April 1897 when his united was transferred to Mauritius where it remained until 21st March 1899 during which time Cresswell was promoted Corporal on 20th July 1897, at this time it was transported to South Africa and subsequently saw action during the Boer War, being present at the battle of Talana on 20th October 1899 and during the relief of Ladysmith including the forcing of the Tugela Heights in February 1900. Also present in action at Laing’s Nek and Belfast and on operations in the Orange Free State. He suffered a severe gun shot wound to the knee at Farquhar’s Farm, Lombard’s Kop on 30th October 1899.

After the Boer War, Cresswell was promoted Sergeant on 8th July 1902 and saw service on Malta between 22nd September 1902 and 26th February 1905, while on Malta, he married Eliza Sarah Farmer on 10th October 1904 in Valetta, he then moved to Egypt between 27th February 1905 and 12th February 1909, having two children, one born in Cairo, the other in Alexandria, the eldest dying aged just 3. Cresswell returned home to the UK on 13th February 1909.

Continuing to serve, he remained in the UK, briefly transferring to the 21st Battalion, County of London Regiment with the role of Instructor Sergeant on 17th July 1913, after the outbreak of war, his Battalion was mobilised, and he was promoted to the rank of Colour Sergeant on 6th January 1915. On 14th March 1915 he was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front seeing action during the Battles of Festubert and Loos, promoted Acting Regimental Serjeant Major on 17th April 1916, he was invalided from the front on 5th July 1916 and returned to the UK on 19th July 1916 for the final time having suffered several bouts of illness, he was discharged at his own request after 22 years service on 30th June 1917.

Cresswell appeared three times in the Regimental Conduct Book being severely reprimanded for being dirty on Church Parade on 22nd December 1907, severely reprimanded for neglect of duty when in charge of a room on 15th March 1911 and reduced to the permanent grade of Colour Serjeant from the rank of acting Regimental Sergeant Major on 11th November 1916 for falsifying an official document (Railway Warrant).