Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Sergeant W. G. Rich, Royal Engineers, who served with the 2nd Mounted Infantry at Suakin in 1884-85, and was Mentioned in Despatches for good services during the siege of Ladysmith

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (17632, Driv: W. G. Rich, 2/Md. Inf. R.E.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (17632 Serjt. W. G. Rich, R.E.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (17632 Serjt: W. G. Rich. R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (17632 Serjt: W. G. Rich. R.E.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, the first with pitting from star and light contact marks generally, nearly very fine and better (5) £700-£900

Dix Noonan Webb, June 2014.

William George Rich was born in Midhurst, Sussex, and enlisted for the 43rd Brigade at Brighton on 23 December 1880, aged 18 years 3 months, a clerk by trade. He was appointed to the 107th Foot, in which regiment he served just 110 days, being discharged by purchase on 11 April 1881. He re-enlisted for the Royal Engineers at Brighton on 10 October 1883, giving his trade as a carpenter. He served in the 2nd Battalion Mounted Infantry, with the small R.E. detachment of 28 men under Lieutenant A. E. Sandbach, in the operations up the river Nile and in the vicinity of Suakin, 1884-85.

Rich served in South Africa with 23rd Field Company R.E. and was present throughout the siege of Ladysmith, being Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 8 February 1901) ‘for good services rendered during the siege of Ladysmith, S. African Campaign 1899’, as noted in his service papers. He received his long service medal in January 1902, and was finally discharged at Bordon Camp on 29 September 1904.

Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts.