Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Doctor C. W. J. Chepmell, Assistant Commissioner for Natal for the Central British Red Cross Committee, and afterwards a Surgeon for the P&O Shipping Line

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (Mr. C. W. J. Chepmell, B.R.C. Society) officially impressed naming; Transport 1899-1902, 1 clasp, S. Africa 1899-1902 (C. Chepmell.) officially impressed naming; British War Medal 1914-20 (Charles W. J. Chepmell) a few edge bruises, otherwise very fine (3) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Boer War Medals to Medical Services, the Church and the Press.

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Charles William James Chepmell was born in 1860 and completed his studies in medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1887. In 1889 he was awarded the degree M.D. with distinction by the University of Brussels (Belgium) and was also admitted as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in England. His war service started when he landed at Cape Town on 8 January 1900, in his capacity as Assistant Commissioner for Natal for the Central British Red Cross Society. This body had been officially recognised as being responsible for organising ‘the reception and forwarding of the various gifts and voluntary supplies of clothing, comforts and luxuries to the sick and wounded in all parts of the country.’ Chepmell proceeded to Pietermaritzburg and carried out his duties with great energy and success until being obliged by illness to resign his post in June 1900. For these services he received the Q.S.A. Medal.
He subsequently joined the P&O Shipping Line as a Surgeon and was appointed to the S.S. Manila on 5 March 1901. He was in medical charge of troops and prisoners-of-war in South African waters for a number of months, and subsequently received the Transport Medal.
After service on other P&O liners, he also served in a hospital in Malaya. In 1902 he served on the S.S. Australia, but resigned, having been reported for insobriety in June 1902. He returned to England and was in private practice in London.
For services during WWI he received the British and Mercantile Marine War Medals. He died in 1935.

Sold with copied research including copied medal rolls for Q.S.A. (16 medals to B.R.C.S.), Transport and Great War medals, and the conclusions of a detailed report by Doctor Chepmell from Pietermaritzburg in October 1900 to the committee British Red Cross Society.