British War Medal 1914-20 (5) (Sjt. J. Lagerstrom 4th S.A.I.; Pte. M. R. C. Bass. 4th S.A.I.; Pte. J. Boyle. 4th S.A.I.; Pte. R. H. Ellis 4th S.A.I.; Pte. N. G. Pritchard 4th S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of all, minor edge bruising, very fine and better (5) £120-£160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 4th Regiment, South African Infantry.

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John Lagerstrom was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, around 1875, and attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 4 September 1915, his papers stating previous service with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. Disembarked at Marseilles 20 April 1916, he was raised Sergeant 20 April 1917 and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the Western Front (London Gazette 9 July 1917). The original recommendation states: ‘During the operations of the 12th April this Non-Commissioned Officer showed conspicuous bravery. After the attack he repeatedly went out under extremely heavy machine-gun and rifle fire to help wounded men under cover. He was indefatigable in his efforts until the Battalion was relieved.’
Lagerstrom returned home to South Africa in May 1919 and likely resumed his pre-war civilian employment as a builder and contractor.

Montague Roy Clifford Bass embarked at Cape Town per H.M.T. City of Karachi on 6 June 1918. Taken on strength of the 4th Regiment on 11 November 1918, he died of spinal meningitis on 28 December 1918 and is buried under a C.W.G.C. headstone at Belgrade Cemetery, Namur, Belgium.

Richard Henry Ellis was born at Cowley, near Exeter, around 1883, and attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 26 August 1915. Posted to the Western Front, he died at the 1st South African General Hospital on 27 July 1916, from wounds received in action. He is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France.

Nathaniel George Pritchard was born in Newport, South Wales, around 1899, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Johannesburg on 8 April 1918. Posted to France 25 August 1918, he suffered a gunshot wound to the arm on 8 October 1918 and was invalided across the Channel per Guildford Castle a few days later. He was later demobilised at Maitland on 25 May 1919.

Sold with copied service records for the above four recipients.

Note: At least two men of the name ‘J. Boyle’ served with the 4th Regiment, South African Infantry.