Pair: 2nd Corporal C. A. Jacobs, 23rd Field Company, Royal Engineers

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (29206 2/Cpl. C. A. Jacobs, R.E.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (29206 2nd Corpl., R.E.) very fine (2) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Boer War Medals to the Royal Engineers.

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Charles Alan Jacobs was born in Westminter, London, in 1872, and joined the Royal Engineers on 29 July 1895. He served in South Africa with the 23rd Field Company from 10 June 1899, and was appointed Lance-Corporal in March 1900. He was promoted to 2nd Corporal in January 1901, ante-dated to 10 July 1900, in reward for service in South Africa (Ref. W.O. letter R36/77218 dated 25 January 1902, and award of M.I.D. in London Gazette 1900).

Only one officer and 45 other ranks of the 23rd Field Company took part in the battle of Talana, the only R.E. troops present. Jacons was mentioned in despatches by General Sir Redvers Buller (London Gazette Despatch of 23 March 1900) in the report from Lieutenant-General Sir George White describing the military operations in Natal at Talana Hill. Sold with copy service papers and medal roll entries.