Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Captain Samuel Taylor Gillespie, Southern Rhodesia Rifle Volunteers, late Rhodesia Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Rhodesia, Relief of Mafeking, Transvaal (438 Tpr., Rhodesia R.) late issue, service number re-impressed; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, G.V.R. (Capt., S. Rhod. T.F. Res.); Efficiency Decoration, G.V.R., Southern Rhodesia, reverse inscribed, ‘Capt. Samuel Taylor Gillespie’, mounted for wear, good very fine and better (3) £400-500

Samuel Taylor Gillespie was born in Aberdeen on 21 April 1873. He was educated at Gordon’s College, after which he was employed as a Carpenter. Leaving Scotland for South Africa in 1896, he joined the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers on 31 August 1899. For his service in the Boer War he was awarded the Queen’s medal with three clasps (issued in 1923). Gillespie was discharged on 15 October 1900 having completed his period of service. After the War he was engaged for several years in pioneering and on railway construction work. During the Great War he served as a Corporal in the Labour Corps, serving in East Africa, and was awarded the British War and Victory Medals (not in lot). After the war he returned to Holi Farm, Matopo, Southern Rhodesia. Having entered the Southern Rhodesia Rifle Volunteers, he was appointed a Lieutenant with seniority 25 November 1921 and was at this time Sub-District Commandant of Sub-District No. 6 at South Mataopo. On 22 September 1922 he was advanced to Captain. As such he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. Medal (Colony of Southern Rhodesia Government Gazette 28 June 1929) and Efficiency Decoration (Southern Rhodesia) (Colony of Southern Rhodesia Government Gazette 15 November 1935). He was appointed a J.P. in 1929 (Colony of Southern Rhodesia Government Gazette 11 January 1929). Sold with copied research.