Three: Captain I. G. Sewell, Northern Nigeria Regiment, late Royal Fusiliers, who was four times Mentioned in Despatches; his promising military career was cut short when he died at Zungeru, Northern Nigeria, of malarial fever and cardial failure on 28 June 1913

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Lieut. I. G. Sewell. 2/Rl. Fus.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. I. G. Sewell. Rl. Fusrs.) engraved naming; Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, N. Nigeria 1903-04, N. Nigeria 1904 (Lieut. I. G. Sewell. Rl. Fus.) light contact marks, very fine and better (3) £800-£1,000

Ivon Govett Sewell was born in Kensington on 16 January 1879, the only son of Frederick John Sewell of The Manor House, Thornborough, Buckinghamshire. Appointed from the Militia as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers 24 January 1899, he witnessed extensive service in South Africa during the Boer War; present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the action at Colenso, he later joined operations on the Tugela Heights from 14 to 27 February 1900 and the action at Pieter’s Hill which forced the Boers under General Botha back across the Tugela River. Detailed to further operations in Natal from March to June 1900, Sewell was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 8 February 1901 and 10 September 1901), the latter occasion relating to a recommendation from Colonel R. Kekewich of the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire):
‘Was my transport officer for some months. A very reliable and hard working officer who always carried out his duties to my entire satisfaction.’

Transferred to West Africa, attached Northern Nigeria Regiment, Sewell took part in operations from 1903-04 in the Bassa Province against the Okpotos. In 1904 he commanded the expedition against the Kilba Tribe north of Yola, receiving the Africa General Service Medal with two clasps and being twice more Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 5 September 1904 and 24 April 1905). Engaged in further operations in Northern Nigeria in 1906, including the Munshi Affair, Sewell was advanced Captain 4 May 1907 and seconded for service under the Colonial Office on 20 August 1910. Returned to the West Africa Field Force, he died of disease in 1913, his loss ‘deeply deplored by all who knew him’. Aged 34 years, his name is commemorated upon a brass tablet in St. Paul’s Church, Hounslow, London, which was erected by his brother officers.

Sold with copied research, including a photograph of the recipient.