The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Eleven: Serjeant John Moore Hamilton, South African Forces, late Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (5197 Pte. J. Moore, A. & S. Highrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (5197 Pte. J. Moore, A. and S. Highrs.); 1914-15 Star (Cpl. J. M. Hamilton, S.A.E.C.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Sjt. J. M. Hamilton, S.A.R.O.D.S. Sec. 1) B.W.M. suspension slack; War and Africa Service Medals, officially impressed (295608 J. M. Hamilton); Coronation 1911, unnamed; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, G.V.R. (No.23/6 Sjt. J. M. Hamilton, 1st (Infy.) Bn. R. & H. Bde.); St. John Service Medal (5028 J. M. Hamilton, South Africa S.J.A.B.O. 1942); Legion of Frontiersmen Medal for Long Service and Efficiency (L.O.F. 21928 Lieut. J. M. Hamilton) note name on first two medals, contact marks, good fine and better (11)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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John Moore Hamilton attested for the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders on 1 August 1894, using the false name of ‘John Hamilton Moore’. With the 1st Battalion he served in South Africa, 27 October 1899-22 September 1902. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in October 1902 and discharged on the termination of his period of engagement on 31 July 1906. On 18 August 1914 he enlisted into the South African Engineer Corps and served in the German South West Africa Campaign as a Corporal. He was demobilised on 4 July 1915. In November 1916 he enlisted into the South African Railways Overseas Dominion Section, being promoted to Serjeant in December 1916. With them he arrived to France on 19 March 1917. Falling sick in July he ended up at the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples and during August-November was in hospital in England. Finally recovering, he was taken on to the strength of the South African Discharge Depot on 20 November 1917. Hamilton returned to South Africa in June 1918 and was discharged on 13 July 1918, as ‘permanently unfit for general war service - over age’. After the war, Hamilton served in the Railways and Harbours Brigade, until discharged in June 1926, and was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Long Service Medal (Government Gazette 20 August 1926). In response to the Second World War, Hamiliton enlisted into the South African Medical Corps on 24 February 1941, and was appointed Acting Sergeant in August. He served in and around Johannesburg until demobilised on 28 February 1947. He then served in the Essential Services Protection Corps, August 1948-March 1949. Sold with a quantity of copied service papers and research.

For his daughter’s medals, see lot xxx (Whitby, 198).