The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 4th Regiment, South African Infantry

A Great War ‘Battle of Passchendaele’ M.M. group of nine awarded to Sergeant J. J. Cronje, 4th Regiment, South African Infantry, later South African Medical Corps, who was decorated for repeatedly hauling wounded men on his back and carrying them from the Menin Road to the comparative safety of Allied First Aid Posts and Casualty Clearing Stations

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2290 Pte. J. J. Cronje. 4/S.A. Inf:); 1914-15 Star (Pte. J. J. Cronje 6th Infantry); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. J. J. Cronje. 4th S.A.I.); 1939-45 Star (228144 J. J. Cronje) this privately engraved; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, the last four officially impressed ‘228144 J. J. Cronje’, mounted as worn, suspension slack on BWM, nearly very fine and better (9) £360-£440

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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M.M. London Gazette 14 January 1918.
The original recommendation - initially for a D.C.M. - states: ‘This man who was a Company stretcher bearer showed great gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations at Ypres on 20 September 1917. Whilst acting as one of a party of stretcher bearers, he continued to carry wounded men to safety on his back under heavy shell fire, after the remaining members of the party were either killed or wounded.’

John Cronje, a blacksmith, was born in Riversdale, South Africa, on 9 September 1894, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry on 14 August 1915. Posted to the Western Front with “K” Company, 4th S.A.I., his papers record that he was wounded in action on 28 February 1917, 18 April 1917 and 24 March 1918; the latter occasion is stated as a severe injury to the shoulder and left knee, received in the opening days of the German Spring Offensive - possibly at Marrieres Wood. Invalided to England 30 March 1918, Cronje embarked home to South Africa per Cawdor Castle and was demobilised at Maitland 24 May 1919. He later returned to service at Kimberley with the South African Medical Corps from 24 December 1941. Appointed Corporal in June 1942 and Sergeant in October 1944, he witnessed extensive service as a male nurse in Italy and North West Europe; he was demobilised in March 1946, his character rated as ‘exemplary’.

Sold with copied service records for both campaigns; with private research detailing the names of 4 comrades recommended for the M.M. alongside Cronje, all members of “D” Company, 4th S.A.I.