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

Bilingual Victory 1914-19 (4) (Pte. G. E. Bell 3rd S.A.I.; Pte. D. J. Fullard. 3rd S.A.I.; Cpl. J. Ross. 3rd S.A.I.; Pte. J. J.Taljaard. 3rd S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of all, nearly very fine and better (4) £80-£100

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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George Edward Bell was born in Cape Town on 14 February 1880 and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 30 August 1915. Posted to the Western Front, he was wounded in action on 2 August 1916 and again on 18 September 1917 at Ypres. His medical report states: Patient was wounded by a shell in the middle 1/3 of leg - part of leg was blown away by the shell - the leg was amputated the following day 4 3/4” below the knee, while flaps were undercut and sutured.’

Daniel James Fullard was born in Oudtshoorn in 1885 and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 5 October 1915. Embarked for England two days later, he joined the Regiment on the Western Front 7 June 1916 and was wounded in action on 15 July 1916. Evacuated to England per H.S. Newhaven with a wound to his hand, he was later discharged at Maitland on 8 May 1919.

John Ross was born in Nairnside, Scotland, around 1878, and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 1 November 1915, stating previous service in German South West Africa with the Pretoria Regiment and Railway Regiment. Posted to the Western Front he is recorded as absent for 10 days from 26 June 1916, and was later admitted to No. 18 General Hospital at Camiers, reason unknown, on 7 July 1916. Discharged to duty 25 August 1916, he was killed in action on 9 April 1917; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

John James Taljaard was born in Wepener around 1886 and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 18 August 1915, stating previous service during the Boer War with De Wet’s Scouts, and from September 1914 with the Rand Light Infantry. Posted to France 23 May 1916, he was killed in action on 18 July 1916 and is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.