The Upfill-Brown Collection

The South Africa medal awarded to Lieutenant John Raymond Garrett, 3rd Battalion 60th Regiment, who was killed in action at Ingogo River during the First Boer War

SOUTH AFRICA 1877-9, 1 clasp, 1879 (2nd Lt. J. R. Garrett, 3/60th Foot), nearly extremely fine

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

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John Raymond Garrett was born at Crakehall, Yorkshire, son of the Reverend William Thomas Garrett, M.A., J. P., and was educated at Eton College. First commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant with the 11th (Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, he transferred to the 60th on 30 November 1878, and served with them during the campaign against the Zulus in 1879, and subsequently on Special Service. During the action at Ingogo River on 8 February, 1881, Sir George Colley sent one of his staff, Captain MeGreggor, R.E., to Colonel Ashburnham with a message that he was to send a company out to the left, as he thought the Boers were going to rush the position. Colonel Ashburnham sent 'I' Company, under Lieutenat Garrett, his only reserve. This side of the position was the one with the least cover, being bare grass, while the rest of the position was mostly covered with rocks and boulders. Captain McGreggor went with them, mounted, to show them where to go. He seems to have gone farther than was intended. He was killed at once and Lieutenant Garrett very soon afterwards.