Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Natal L.S. &. G.C. group of four awarded to Staff Sergeant-Major J. Delvin, East African Labour Corps, late Gaoler, Natal Police

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (Gaoler J. H. Delvin, Natal Police); Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (Gaoler J. H. Delvin, Natal Police); British War Medal 1914-20 (12679 Sjt. J. Delvin, E. Afr. L.C.); Natal L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (1 C. Sgt. J. Delvin, N.P.), suspension claw repaired on the second, edge bruising and contact marks, thus good fine or better (4) £800-1000

Less than 40 Natal Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were issued with the Edward VII obverse.

John Delvin was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 12 April 1867. At some stage he emigrated to South Africa and joined the Natal Police as a Gaoler. References in the National Archives of South Africa at Pietermaritzburg show that a John Delvin was Chief Warden at Durban Gaol in 1893, when he resigned. This is possibly his father. In 1917, a John Delvin was charged with theft, falsity, forgery, and uttering. It may not be coincidental that John Delvin attested in the South African Medical Corps, Union, on 28 March 1917 at Potchefstroom, for service in South Africa. At the time, he stated that he was married to Minnie and resided at 179 Berg Street, Maritzburg, Natal, and was a Civil Servant (Retired, Non-pension). His age is given as 49.

He was made an Acting Sergeant from 3 April ‘as a temporary measure for disciplinary purposes in Hospitals’. He left Camp on 9 April 1917 and was arrested by Civil Authorities on the same day. He was discharged from the S.A.M.C. at Kimberley with effect from 9 April 1917 after only 15 days service. He next attested for service as a Sergeant with the General Depot Staff, Durban on 5 March 1918. This attestation form notes his wife, Minnie, and the same address as on his previous attestation. His occupation is given as gardener, and previous service in the Natal Police is noted.

He was admitted to General Hospital No. 3, 14-28 April 1918. He was discharged with effect from 30 June 1918 after 118 days service, being released to re-attest in the Military Labour Corps. He next attested as a Sergeant No. 12679 for the Military Labour Corps in the East African Force on 29 June 1918 ‘for the duration of hostilities in Central and East Africa, and for twelve months thereafter or such shorter period as services required’. This attestation form again notes his wife, Minnie, his same home address, and his trade as a gardener. He embarked at Durban on H.M.T. Ingomo on 19 July 1918 for Dar-es-Salaam. He was advanced to Staff Sergeant on 1 April 1918 and Staff Sergeant Major on 1 December 1919. He was discharged on 3 August 1920; sold with copied service papers.