Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal (16986 Gnr. T. Nerney, 10th M.B., R.G.A.) attempted erasure of service number, suspension post slightly bent, edge bruising, about very fine £180-£220

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2010.

Thomas Nerney was born in Edinburgh in 1877 and attested for service in the Royal Artillery at Middlesbrough on 28 October 1896, having previously served with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. He served with the Royal Garrison Artillery he served in South Africa during the Boer War from 24 December 1898 to 3 April 1903, and was slightly wounded on 18 December 1899 whilst with the 10th Mountain Battery at the Defence of Ladysmith. The war diary records, ‘Dec. 19th. One of our 6.3” Howitzers struck by 6” shell from Telegraph Hill. Gr. Narney [sic)] wounded. Howitzer carriage was repaired and in position again at Ration Post in forty-eight hours’.

Nerney transferred to the Army Reserve on 28 October 1903, and was discharged on 27 October 1908, after 12 years’ service. Although papers exist that state his medal was forfeited under Section 18 of the Army Act (Disgraceful Conduct of a Soldier), for his service in the Boer War he was awarded the Queen’s medal with two clasps and the King’s medal with two. Nerney re-enlisted into the Cork R.G.A. on 24 April 1912 as ‘3269 Gunner T. Nerney’, and served with the 22nd Trench Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 March 1915. He was killed in action on 6 July 1915; he has no known grave, and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.

With copied service papers, Medal Index Card, and other research.