The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons

Three: Corporal C. Jenkinson, 2nd South African Infantry, formerly Botha’s Natal Horse, who was killed in action on 15 July 1916 in the epic battle for Delville Wood

1914-15 Star (Pte., Bothas Natal Hse.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Cpl., 2nd S.A.I.), with related Memorial Plaque (Clement Jenkinson), and memorial scroll, all contained in a contemporary oak glazed display frame, extremely fine (4) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons.

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Clement Jenkinson, who was originally from Yorkshire, enlisted in the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force at Potchefstroom in October 1915, aged 23 years. He had earlier seen service in the Natal Carbineers and Botha’s Natal Horse, and fought in German South-West Africa.

Posted to ‘B’ Company of the 2nd South African Infantry (Natal and Orange Free State Regiment), he arrived in France, via Egypt, in April 1916 and was killed in action in the epic battle for Delville Wood on 15 July 1916.

Jenkinson is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Battle of Delville Wood was a subsidiary attack of the Somme Offensive, fought from 15 July through to 3 September 1916. It was essential to the British that the wood be cleared of Germans before any attack could be launched on the formidable, and notorious, German Switch Line. The task of capturing the wood was handed to the South African Brigade of some 3,150 men, attached to the 9th Scottish Division.

On 15 July at dawn the South African Infantry went in following a heavy artillery barrage; and succeeded in clearing the southern edge of German forces. The remainder of the wood remained in German hands.

Hand to hand fighting ensued until the South Africans were relieved on the night of 19 July, having lost 766 dead among the four battalions alone; the dead outnumbered the wounded by four to one. Throughout poor weather (it rained often) and enemy artillery fire which reached a crescendo of 400 shells a minute, the surrounding landscape was transformed into a mess of broken, stumpy tree roots and massive shell holes.

The wood was never entirely taken by the South African forces, despite huge efforts to do so. It wasn't until after another month of fierce fighting had taken place, that on 25 August, the 14th (Light) Division finally took the wood and overcame German resistance. Delville Wood remained the most costly action the South African Brigade fought on the Western Front.