A Bechuanaland and German South West Africa campaign pair to Sergeant J. H. Sikes, Cape Mounted Riflemen

Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Bechuanaland (2605 Pte. J. H. Sikes, C.M. Rif.); German South West Africa Campaign Medal, bronze issue for combatants, 1 clasp, Kalahari 1907, unnamed as issued, the second polished, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson.

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John Harvey Sikes was born in Cork on 17 August 1872, and enlisted into the Cape Mounted Rifles on 29 June 1894, aged 22. He was promoted to Corporal in June 1902, to Sergeant 3rd Class in December 1906, and to Sergeant 2nd Class in June 1912. He served during the operations in Bechuanaland during 1896-97, in the Boer War of 1899-1902, in the Natal Rebellion of 1906, and in the campaign in German South Wst Africa in 1907. He was one of only 27 members of the Cape Mounted Riflemen, under Lieutenant A. J. Cowley, to receive the clasp for Kalahari 1907. In addition to medals for the Boer War and Natal Rebellion, Sikes is also entitled to Great War medals for service as a Signalling Sergeant with the South African Mounted Rifles. He was finally discharged sometime in 1922.