Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (4204 Pte. F. R. Ward, 1: Leic: Regt.) edge bruise, very fine £240-£280

Provenance: Sotheby’s, November 1981; Spink, March 1986.

F. R. Ward attested for the Leicestershire Regiment, and served with the 1st Battalion, attached to the Mounted Infantry, in South Africa during the Boer War. For his gallantry at Swartz Kop on 13 February 1901 he was Mentioned in General Kitchener’s Despatch (London Gazette 9 July 1901) and was promoted Corporal by the Commander-in-Chief. The citation for his gallantry states:
‘In retirement from Swartz Kop on 13 February 1901, the shaft of a machine gun broke; the enemy, pressing close, endeavoured to capture the gun. Privates S. Johnson and F. Ward stuck to the gun, mended the shaft, and brought the gun away by hand.’

Sold with copied research.