A Fine Collection of Medals for the First Boer War

A rare First Boer War ‘Saving the Colours at Bronkhorstspruit’ D.C.M. pair awarded to Sergeant J. T. Bradley, 94th Regiment of Foot, later 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers, for his conduct during the first major engagement of the First Boer War on 20 December 1880

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (673 Sergt. J. T. Bradley, 94th. Foot. 20th. Dec: 1880); South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (673. Lce. Corpl. J. T. Bradley. 94th. Foot.) edge bruising and contact marks, very fine (2) £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals for the First Boer War.

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D.C.M. Recommendation submitted to the Queen 6 March 1882; Medal presented by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 13 May 1882.

The Battle of Bronkhorstspruit
The Battle of Bronkhorstspruit on 20 December 1880 was the first major engagement of the First Boer War; on this date ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Anstruther of the 94th Regiment with 9 officers and 254 other ranks was marching from Lydenburg to Pretoria when he was ambushed 37 miles from his objective by the Bronkhorstspruit river. He had been informed of the Boer rising and warned against being surprised, but even so the Boers’ tactics were of doubtful fairness since it was by no means certain that a state of war existed. The straggling columns of wagons was halted by a few Boers in an exposed spot, the Colonel was handed a proclamation ordering him to turn back; he was given only two minutes to reply, and when he refused fire was opened at once. The Boer leader, Joubert, had concealed about a thousand men in excellent firing positions, clearly expecting a refusal. The action lasted less than half an hour and amounted to a massacre.’ (Victorian Military Campaigns refers).

British casualties amounted to 5 officers and 63 men killed, and 4 officers and 85 men wounded; Boer casualties were negligible. Every British officer was a casualty, including Anstruther, who received five wounds to the legs, and subsequently died of those wounds a week later.

For their roles in saving the Colours (which was subsequently heralded in the press, presumably to detract from the overall disaster), both Colour Sergeant Henry Maistre and Sergeant Joseph Taylor Bradley, were awarded the D.C.M. During the Battle, Maistre had hid the Colours under a stretcher that was carrying the wounded Mrs. Fox, wife of Sergeant Major G. Fox. Following the Battle, the Boer Commandant Frans Joubert allowed the British to establish a camp for their wounded, as well as allowing Conductor Ralph Egerton, Commissariat and Transport Department, and Sergeant Bradley to proceed on foot to Pretoria to seek medical assistance. The Colours, retrieved from Mrs. Fox’s stretcher, were subsequently smuggled from the battlefield to Pretoria by Egerton and Bradley, presumably concealed upon their bodies.

Sold with a photograph of the recovered Colours; and copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.