The Upfill-Brown Collection

An extremely rare First Boer War D.C.M. group to Company Sergeant Major T. Day, Royal Engineers

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, V. R. (Sergt., R.E., 22nd Jany. 1881); ASHANTEE 1873- 4, 1 clasp, Coomassie (2nd Corpl., R.E.); SOUTH AFRICA 1877-9, 1 clasp, 1879 (Sergt., R.E.); ARMY LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT, V. R. (Co. Sgt. Major, R.E.), mounted court style, slight contact wear and bruised in places, about very fine and better

Only 21 D.C.M. 's for the First Boer War, this example being unique to the Royal Engineers (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The AA Upfill-Brown Collection.

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D.C.M., Submitted to the Queen, 6 March, 1882, recommended: 'For gallantry at the Seige of Lydenburg on 22 January 1881. 'Company Sergeant Major Thomas Day, who had previously seen service at the battles of Amoaful, Ordashu and Coomassie in the Ashantee War, 1873-74, and at Inyezane and the defence of Etschowe during the Zulu rebellion in 1879, was prominent among the defenders of Lydenburg for his work in strengthening the barricades, digging trenches and erecting entanglements under fire. However, it was for bringing in a mortally wounded Private of the 94th Regiment, 'under very heavy fire, ' on 22 January 1881, that he received the D.C.M. The seige at Lydenburg, a small town 180 miles N. E. of Pretoria, lasted for 84 days, a small contingent of 76 men holding out against an enemy force estimated at 700.