A Fine Collection of Queen's South Africa Medals to Scout Units

The rare maximum ‘8 battle clasps’ Queen’s South Africa medal awarded to Corporal H. J. Edy, Damant’s Horse, late Rimington’s Guides

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 9 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901, top date clasp loose on riband (Cpl. H. J. Edy. Damant’s Horse) nearly extremely fine, rare £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Queen's South Africa Medals to Scout Units.

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Henry John Edy enlisted in Rimington’s Guides on 4 November 1899, and was discharged, time expired, on 25 January 1901.

Raised at the outbreak of the war by Major M. F. Rimington, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, Rimington’s Guides was not a large unit, numbering about 150 at the outset, but distinguished themselves in many of the early actions of the war. Sir Archibald Hunter said of them, ‘Major Rimington has gathered a body of men whose virtues are like his own. They can ride, see, fight, and shoot straight. They are in the forefront where there is danger. They have never disappointed me, let alone failed me.’ When Rimington left the Guides to take another command, the unit was resuscitated under another of their leaders, Major Damant. Although the corps was still called officially Rimington’s Guides, it eventually became Damant’s Horse. Uniquely, members serving exclusively with Rimington’s Guides/ Damant’s Horse were entitled to 8 battle clasps, the greatest number of clasps (excluding the two date clasps) issued to the Queen’s South Africa Medal.