The David Laban Collection of Great War Awards

Six: Captain J. Bostick, Royal West Surrey Regiment and Northampton Regiment, late Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal for saving life at Devil’s Point, Plymouth in 1888

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (1131 Boy. J. Bostic [sic]. 2/D. of Corn: L.I.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (4701 Sejt. J. Bostick. Rl: Wt. Surrey Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (...Serjt. J. Bostick. The Que...); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. Bostick.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Jas. Bostick. Bandsman 2nd Bn. Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infty 17 Augt: 1888) with integral top riband buckle; together with a silver presentation fob watch, with key, hallmarks for London 1888, maker marked ‘AJW’ for Arthur James Walker of Coventry, and inscribed ‘Presented by the Officers, 2nd Bn. D.C.L.I. to 1131 Pte. James Bostick (2nd. Batt. D.C.L.I.) For Gallantry in saving Life at Devil’s Point. Plymouth on the 17th August 1888., the first five medals mounted as worn from a contemporary quintuple top brooch bar, heavy contact marks especially to the first three, therefore about fine; the Great War pair very fine (6) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Great War Awards.

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R.H.S. Case Number 24,112:
‘To James Bostick, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, for saving a man who attempted suicide at Devils Point, Stonehouse, on 17 August 1888 having jumped off a rock he resisted, and indeed fought at, a man who tried pull him into his boat. Devil’s Point is a notoriously dangerous place, but Bostick, who saw the struggle from the shore, went into the sea, and after great trouble brought out the man who had been half an hour in the water.’

James Bostick was born on 22 February 1871 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry as a Boy soldier in October 1883, serving with them in Egypt and the Sudan as part of the Nile Expedition (also entitled to a Khedive’s Star). Appointed Lance Sergeant in August 1893, he transferred to the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment in December 1894, and served with the 3rd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War. Commissioned Temporary Captain on 8 February 1915, he first served in the Egyptian theatre during the Great War, and subsequently transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment, being entitled to a Silver War Badge, No. 451934. He was discharged from 1st Garrison Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on 1 November 1919, suffering from debility, and died in Walthamstow on 25 January 1939.

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