Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Gunner J. Morrisy, Royal Garrison Artillery

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, last clasp unofficially affixed (81838 Gnr: J. Morrisy. 15th. Coy. S.D., R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (81838 Gr. J. Morrisy. No. 91 Co. R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (81838 Gnr. J. Morrissey [sic]. R.G.A.) surname officially corrected on all three, generally very fine and a rare combination of award (3) £400-£500

One of only 35 Queen’s South Africa Medal, China Medal, and King’s South Africa Medal combinations awarded, all to Reservists of the Royal Garrison Artillery.

J. Morrisy (also recorded as Morrissey) served as a Reservist with No. 15 (Siege Train) Company, Southern Division, Royal Garrison Artillery, and embarked for South Africa in R.M.S. Tantallon Castle at Southampton on 9 December 1899, reaching Cape Town on 26 December 1899. He served in South Africa during the Boer War for the next six months, with the company particularly distinguishing itself at Paardeberg on 26 February 1900, before embarking with the company for China in S.S. Antillian at Cape Town on 18 July 1900, and arrived at Wei-hai-Wei on 30 August 1900 for service in the latter stages of the Boxer Rebellion.

After wintering in Hong Kong, and with the Boxer Rebellion over, the Reservists of the company returned to South Africa, landing back at Cape Town on 30 March 1901 and saw further service with No. 14 Company, Western Division, qualifying for the Transvaal clasp. Eight of the Reservists left South Africa for England before the end of the year (and so were only entitled to the South Africa 1901 clasp to their Q.S.A.), but 35 (including Morrisy) stayed in South Africa until the cessation of hostilities, and so qualified for the King’s South Africa with both clasps.

On 1 January 1902 the Divisional System of the Royal Garrison Artillery was abolished, and all companies were re-numbered sequentially from 1 to 105, with 15 Company Southern Division being renumbered 91 Company. The China Medal (being issued after 1902) is correctly named to the re-numbered unit.

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