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

Bilingual Victory 1914-19 (4) (Pte. M. Marais. 3rd S.A.I.; Pte. J. S. Oddy. 3rd S.A.I.; Pte. J. W. Pocock. 3rd S.A.I.; Pte. H. Smallbone. 3rd S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of all, edge bruising and contact marks, generally good fine and better (4) £70-£90

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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Martin Marais was born in Worcester, Cape Province, around 1887, and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 17 November 1915. He was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 18 October 1916; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

James Spencer Oddy was born in Natal around 1897 and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 3 September 1915. Posted to the Western Front with “B” Company from 19 July 1916, he later suffered a compound fracture to the left forearm in October 1918 and was evacuated to Military Hospital in Richmond.

James William Pocock was born in Cape Town around 1894, and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 27 October 1915, his papers recording over a year’s previous service with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Disembarked at Boulogne 22 May 1916, he served as a Signaller on the Western Front and was killed in action on 15 July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Henry Smallbone was born in Berkshire, England, around 1877, and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 13 January 1916. Posted to the Western Front 6 August 1916, he was soon evacuated to England suffering from myalgia on 1 September 1916, being discharged medically unfit at Wynberg on 10 January 1917.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.