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

Pair: Lance-Corporal H. Ryman, 4th Regiment, South African Infantry
1914-15 Star (Pte. H. Ryman 8th Infantry.); British War Medal 1914-20 (L/Cpl. H. Ryman 4th S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of both, very fine

Pair: Private W. S. Simpson, 4th Regiment, South African Infantry
1914-15 Star (Pte. W. S. Simpson 6th Infantry.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Pte. W. S. Simpson. 4th S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of both, very fine

Pair: Private N. Elman, 4th Regiment, South African Infantry, who died of wounds on 11 September 1916
1914-15 Star (Pte. N. Elman 6th Infantry); Bilingual Victory Medal 1914-19 (Pte. N. Elman. 4th S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of both, good very fine (6) £100-£140

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

View
Collection

Harold Ryman was born in Durban around 1895 and attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Potchefstroom in September 1915. Posted to France from 21 April 1916, his papers record him as ‘missing’ on 15 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Later stated to be with his unit and uninjured, Ryman remained on the Western Front, and later suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh and arm on 11 April 1918, and another to the shoulder and thigh on 17 October 1918. He was discharged at Maitland on 6 May 1919.

William Strachan Simpson attested for “E” Company, 4th South African Infantry on 14 September 1915. Posted to the Western Front, he was tried by District Court Martial on 2 February 1916. His papers state: ‘When on active service using violence to his superior officer’. Found not guilty, but judged guilty of ‘offering’ violence, he was sentenced to 14 days in the cells. Afflicted by bronchitis in January 1918, Simpson survived the war and was discharged at Maitland in June 1919.

Nathan Elman was born in the District of Korna, Russia, around 1887, and attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 30 August 1915. Posted to “E” Company on 14 September 1915, he arrived in France on 30 June 1916 and died of self inflicted wounds in the woods of the Grand Chateau, Villers Chatel, just a few months later. He is buried in Quatre-Vents Military Cemetery, Estree-Cauchy, France.

Sold with copied service records for all three recipients.