The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry

Family group:

Pair: Private W. F. Griffin, 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 9 April 1917
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. W. F. Griffin. 3rd S.A.I.); Memorial Plaque (Walter Francis Griffin) traces of adhesive to reverse of all, small patch of verdigris to obverse of latter otherwise good very fine

The Victory Medal awarded to Private G. Griffin, 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry, who killed in action on the Western Front on 12 April 1918
Bilingual Victory 1914-19 (Pte. G. Griffin. 3rd. S.A.I.); Memorial Plaque (Gerald Griffin) traces of adhesive to reverse of both, staining to reverse of VM, nearly very fine (5) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry.

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Walter Francis Griffin was born in Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia, in 1888, and originally attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 7 October 1916. He embarked at Cape Town for England in the Walmer Castle on 6 November 1916, and arrived at No. 2 Infantry Base Depot in Rouen on 19 January 1917. Sent to the Western Front with “A” Company, 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry, he was killed in action on 9 April 1917. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France.

Gerald Griffin, brother of the above, was born in 1897 and originally served in East Africa with the 1st Mounted Brigade, 9th South African Horse. Transferring to the 3rd South African Infantry on the Western Front, he suffered a shrapnel wound on 21 September 1917 and was sent to No. 35 General Hospital. He was subsequently killed in action in the chaotic fighting for control of the old battlefield of Passchendaele on 12 April 1918; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Sold with copied service records for both brothers.