Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private H. Stones, Manchester Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his gallant conduct during the Defence of Ladysmith

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4304 Pte. H. Stones. Manchester Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4304 Pte. H. Stones. Manch: Regt.) mounted court-style for display, minor edge bruising to the QSA, otherwise better than very fine (2) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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M.I.D. London Gazette: 8 February 1901

Henry Stones (also recorded as Stone) was born in Bollington, Cheshire, in 1873. On 12 September 1894 he attested as a Private in the Manchester Regiment, declaring that he was still serving in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Lancashire Regiment. He initially served ‘at home’ with 1st Battalion but in February 1896 transferred to 2nd Battalion, stationed in Dinapure, India. In November 1897 he reverted to the 1st Battalion then at Gibraltar; in 1899 his battalion embarked for South Africa, landing at Cape Town and then onwards to Natal and proceeded by rail to Ladysmith.

Stones was one of those defenders of Caesar’s Camp at Ladysmith which was heavily assaulted on 6 January 1900. For his conduct that day he was Mentioned in the Despatch of Lieutenant General Sir George S. White of 23 March 1900; of the 14 soldiers so mentioned, the two Sergeants mentioned, Gresty and Grant, were both subsequently awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He returned to the U.K. in early September 1902 and was posted to the regimental depot at Ashton Under Lyne on 26 September, being demobilised the following day.

Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.