Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private W. S. Porteous, 4th South African Infantry, who was killed in action on the Somme on 12 October 1916

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (785 Pte., Kaffrn. Rifles), single initial ‘W.’; British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte., 4th S.A.I.), with related Memorial Plaque (William Sutherland Porteous) and Pretoria Citizens’ Service Medal for the Great War 1914-18, bronze, one or two edge bruises, otherwise extremely fine (5) £400-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons.

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Willliam Sutherland Porteous was born at Stromness in the Orkneys.

His entitlement to the above described Queen’s South Africa Medal, including rare ‘Wepener’ clasp, is verified on the roll of the Kaffrarian Rifles, and he joined the Commander-in-Chief’s Body Guard in December 1900, the latter’s roll suggesting additional entitlement to the ‘Orange Free State’ clasp.

Re-enlisting in the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force in October 1915, he arrived in France in June 1916 and was posted to the 4th South African Infantry, with whom he was killed in action on the Somme less than a fortnight later.

The following obituary notice appeared in the Orcadian of 11 November 1916:

‘Private William S. Porteous was the second son of Mr. Duncan Porteous, baker, Stromness, and of Mrs. Porteous. After serving his apprenticeship to his father’s trade, he went to South Africa 19 years ago, and he found employment in the mines where so many Orcadians sought their fortunes. He volunteered his services in his country’s cause against the Boers, and he went through the seige of Wepener. In this campaign he so distinguished himself that he was promoted to Sergeant on the field, and he held the South African Medal. When the call came for volunteers for France, he again laid aside his civil occupation and donned the uniform of his King. It was in khaki that he visited his native town in February last, being his first visit since he left 19 years before. Four brief days were all too short after such a long absence, so he even availed himself of a one day’s visit in June, immediately before crossing the Channel. Cheery letters were received from him as occasion permitted and he appeared to withstand the trials of the trenches and the hardships of active service very well. The fatal news was conveyed to his parents in a letter from a comrade by whose side he was shot in a charge across “No Man’s Land” on 12 October. Private Porteous was a widower and leaves two children. Nobly did he do his duty during the Boer War, but nobler still was his courage and determination to again face the foe on the sterner fields of France, where he testified with his life, his love and devotion to King and Country.’

Porteous is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial; photographs of the relevant panel are included.