Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (4) (C.Q.M.S. R. R. Aitkenhead. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. W. E. Brooke. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. A. U. Hall. 1st. S.A.I.; Sjt. W. R. Harding 1st. S.A.I.) glue residue to the reverse of all, generally very fine (4) £70-£90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 1st Regiment, South African Infantry.

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Robert Richmond Aitkenhead was born in Glasgow in 1881 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Johannesburg on 13 November 1916, stating 5 years of previous service with the 79th Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Embarked at Cape Town for England per Walmer Castle, he was severely wounded in the chest on 26 September 1917. Sent to Richmond Hospital and Eastbourne Convalescent Hospital, he was discharged at Maitland in March 1919.

William Edmund Brooke was born in Port Elizabeth in 1894 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 23 August 1915. Initially posted to Egypt, he transferred to the Western Front on 15 April 1916 and received a gunshot wound when going ‘over the top’. The recipient’s service record adds: ‘On 9th April 1917 patient was wounded whilst advancing over no man’s land by machine gun bullets. Was taken to A.D.S. then to C.C.S. then to Etaples. Arm was amputated at Tooting Hosp. on 29th April, 1917.’

Albert Usher Hall was born in London in 1880 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Kimberley on 28 May 1918. Posted to France on 31 October 1918, he was later discharged at Maitland on 11 July 1919.

William Ralph Harding was born in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, around 1896, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Johannesburg on 8 April 1918. Embarked at Cape Town for Tilbury Docks, he arrived in England on 5 June 1918 and served with “E” Company, 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, on the Western Front from 25 August 1918. Awarded 168 hours of detention (reason unknown) two days later, he qualified as a Lewis Gunner on 1 November 1918 and was demobilised at Maitland on 12 November 1919.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.