Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Sergeant G. Peat, Royal Army Medical Corps, who served as Deputy Superintendent of the Portland Hospital during the Boer War

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (St.- Sgt. G. Peat. R.A.M.C.); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (80 1st. C. Sergt. G. Peat. Welbeck. Div.); 1914-15 Star (49490, Sjt. G. Peat, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals49490 Sgt. G. Peat. R.A.M.C.) good very fine (5) £500-£700

George Peat was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on 20 July 1874 and was a long serving member of the Welbeck Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade when he volunteered to serve (for 6 months) in South Africa during the Boer War with the Portland Field Hospital. The Portland Field Hospital (160 beds) was raised by subscription for the Boer War, with the Duke of Portland contributing £5,000 to the almost £14,000 raised (the Duke of Portland’s ancestral seat was Welbeck Abbey, and so presumably the hospital drew most of its staff from the Welbeck Division of the S.J.A.B.). The medical staff and orderlies, with full supplies, left England on 13 December 1899 and on their arrival at the Cape no time was lost in commencing operations at Rondebosch. Here they remained for three months, after which the hospital was removed to Bloemfontein, its existence coming to an end in July 1900. In total some 1,009 officers and men were treated by the Hospital, with Peat serving as Deputy Superintendent of the hospital. Interestingly, although his Queen’s South Africa Medal gives his rank as Staff Sergeant with the R.A.M.C. he never attested into the Army.

On returning from South Africa Peat gained employment as Clerk in charge of Stores, and he may have served with the Territorials in the R.A.M.C. post Boer War as his Great War enlistment papers record he was part of the Nottinghamshire National Reserve and wished to re-enlist. Whilst he was over age (40), he was accepted as a Private on 15 January 1915, being rapidly promoted to Sergeant. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 June 1915 where he was hospitalised several times (including malaria) and sent to Birmingham Hospital on 12 August 1917, suffering from neurasthenia which resulted in his medical discharge on 27 February 1918. He was awarded a Silver War Badge, no. 370,475. He died in Southport, Lancashire, in January 1949.

Sold with copied service papers. medal roll extracts, and other research.