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

Bilingual Victory Medal 1914-19 (4) (Pte. J. H. Matheson. 4th S.A.I.; Pte. H. T. Matthews. 4th S.A.I.; Pte. D. Page 4th S.A.I.; Pte. J. R. Patrick 4th S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of all, wear and traces of verdigris to the VM to Matheson, this fair; the remainder very fine (4) £80-£100

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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John H. Matheson was born in Cape Town around 1891 and attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 21 August 1915. His papers note that he struggled with military discipline with repeated entries for ‘conduct prejudicial to good order’. Posted to the Western Front, he suffered a gunshot wound to the ear on 25 March 1918 and was later discharged at Maitland in May 1919.

Henry Thomas Matthews was born in Cardiff in 1897 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Cape Town on 8 May 1917. Posted to the 4th Regiment on the Western Front 11 November 1917, he is recorded as a Prisoner of War in Germany from 24 March 1918. Repatriated on 8 December 1918, he was discharged at Maitland in May 1919.

Donald Page was born in Mafeking in 1890 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry on 8 April 1918. Posted to France on 25 August 1918, he transferred to the 4th Regiment on 30 August 1918 and was discharged in September 1919. His service records add: ‘Disability. Malaria and gas effects att. to service.’

James Rice Patrick was born in Glasgow around 1896 and attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 7 December 1915. He served in France from 6 August 1916 and received a gunshot wound to the chest on 22 March 1918. He was later discharged at Maitland in July 1919.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.