TOPIC:

The exploits of Rimington's Guides and Dammant's Horse have always held a special place in the history of the Boer War. The history, adventures and tiger caps, not to mention their tantalising QSAs have long been a source of admiration.

This fabulous combination of awards to J Lane was sold by Bonhams in Sept 2011 for £4,560.



Photograph courtesy of Bonhams.

No biography is included with the lot, just the description of the medals:

South Africa 1877-79, one bar, 1877-8-9 (Tpr. J.Lane A/3rd. Cape Yeory.); Cape of Good Hope 1880-1896, one bar, Basutoland (Tpr.J.Lane. C.M.Yeo.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, nine bars, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, S.A.01 (4979 Tpr: J.Lane. Damant's Horse.).

The clasps are notes as being confirmed.

Hi David......

This is a fantastic group especially with 8 of the 9 bars being Battle Bars.....

Makes my man rather small.....


THICKENS, F. E.

REG. NO.: 95
RANK: ORDERLY ROOM SERGEANT

REGT: DAMANT’S HORSE
BARS: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902

DATE OF PURCHASE: April 10th, 1998, SPRING/EASTER GUN SHOW
PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: $225.00

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. 1914 - 1915 STAR, CAPTAIN F. R. THICKENS 5th SOUTH AFRICAN INFANTRY
2. 1914 - 1918 WAR MEDAL
3. INTERALLIED VICTORY MEDAL (SOUTH AFRICAN VERSION)


Mike

Good evening David,
With regards to their "tiger caps" as I understand, they wore slouch hats with a piece of leopard skin and leopard in afrikaans is tier, so Rimmington's Tiger's.
Kind regards Frank

I was told of someone who bought a Damant's Horse QSA at a flea market in Cape Town, but turned down an accompanying scruffy hat with a leopard skin band, because it looked so disgusting. On being told this story, a more knowledgeable person urged the buyer to return to the market to buy the hat as well. Too late! The hat was not seen again and is another Boer War treasure lost.

Brett

Brett,

That would have been quite a treasure! I am sure we have all regretted decisions like these though?

Kind regards
David

Here is another. The medal has 8 bars and the 1901 is apparently a late issue but not on the medal.

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899, (3rd reverse), - eight clasps - Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen. Tpr: W. H. Glanville. Damant's Horse. Impressed. A few scratches in obverse field, otherwise extremely fine.

Edit:
Here is a picture. I have added the 1901 bar on loose for visual effect. He is on the roll with an issue date in 1907 for the 1901 clasp so I am happy it is a 9 clasp medal.