Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Belmont, Modder River (282365, Sto: G. W. Keeler, H.M.S. Monarch.) engraved naming, nearly extremely fine £200-£240

George William Keeler was born in Horsford, Norfolk, on 11 February 1877 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 17 April 1896. Advanced Stoker on 23 September 1897, he was posted to H.M.S. Monarch on 6 October 1899, and served as a member of Monarch’s naval brigade that landed for active service during the Boer War. Transferring to H.M.S. Venerable on 12 November 1902, his service was regularly punctuated by various periods in the cells, and on 6 November 1903 he was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour for improperly leaving his ship and striking his superior officer. He was released and dismissed from the service on 6 November 1904, with the corner of his Parchment Certificate of Service being cut off.

Sold with copied medal roll extract.