Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family group:

Six: Serjeant G. E. Watkins, South African Medical Corps, late Diamond Fields Horse and Kimberly Volunteer Regiment

Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Bechuanaland (Sergt., Dmd. F. Hse.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Orange Free State, Transvaal (413 C. Sjt. Maj., Kimberley Vol. Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (G. E. Watkins) renamed; British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Sjt., S.A.M.C.); Mayor of Kimberley’s Star 1899-1900, reverse hallmark with date letter ‘a’, complete with brooch bar, ‘K.S.A.’ fine

Seven: Gunner G. L. Watkins, South African Field Artillery, late Veteran Regiment

1914-15 Star (Pte., Veteran Rgt.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Gnr., S.A.F.A.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War and Africa Service Medals, these officially impressed (614518 G. L. Watkins)

1914-15 Star (2) (Pte C. C. Watkins, Kimberley Cdo.; Pte. P. E. Watkins, 7th Infantry) good very fine and better except where stated (15) £600-700

Includes medals to a father and two sons.

George E. Watkins served as a Sergeant in the Diamond Field Horse during the operations in Bechuanaland 1896-97; as Company Sergeant-Major in the Kimberley Volunteer Regiment and Lieutenant in Scott’s Railway Guards during the Boer War and as a Serjeant in the South African Medical Corps during the Great War. K.S.A. not confirmed.

178 Private Charles Collyer Watkins, Kimberley Commando (Scott’s Horse) died on 2 December 1914, aged 17 years. He was buried in the Kimberley (West End) Cemetery.

5909 Private Percy Edward Watkins, ‘C’ Company, 1st Regiment South African Infantry (late 7th Infantry), died/was killed, in Flanders on 20 May 1916, aged 21 years. He was buried in the Tancrez Farm Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. He had previously served in German South West Africa and Egypt.

The two brothers were the sons of George E. and Lucy Watkins, of 7 Graham Street, Kimberley.