The Tom Gustard Collection of Medals & Militaria and to the 21st Lancers

Pair: Private H. Bradshaw, 21st Lancers, a member of ‘B’ Squadron who was killed in action in the charge at Omdurman

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4022 Pte., 21/Lancers); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (4022 Pte., 21st Lcrs.), both with light pawnbroker’s mark on rim, nearly extremely fine (2) £3000-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Tom Gustard Collection of Medals & Militaria and to the 21st Lancers.

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Horace Bradshaw was born at Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent in January 1877 and enlisted in the 21st Lancers at Canterbury in March 1897. He was subsequently killed in action in the charge at Omdurman, where ‘B’ Squadron was heavily engaged and sustained eight fatalities out of the regiment’s total of 21 killed - members of ‘B’ Squadron also won two V.Cs and four D.C.Ms.

Mention is to be found of the recipient in the recommendation for the D.C.M. awarded to Lance-Sergeant William Chalmers, a member of ‘A’ Squadron, who led the ‘helpless and wounded’ Bradshaw out of the action and ‘rendered aid to him’ - sadly to no avail, the Staffordshire Sentinel of 6 September 1898 confirming his death (‘Handley man amongst the slain’) and, two months later, adding the following notice:

‘Trooper Horace Bradshaw, whose portrait is given above, was one of the unfortunate men of the 21st Lancers who fell at Omdurman. He was a native of Handley, was but 22 years of age and was in Squadron II of the 21st Lancers. He enlisted two years ago. Both his father and his mother preceeded him and when in the district he stayed with his married sister, Mrs. Barrett in Leek Road. He was a member of the Christian Endeavour Society and the Tabernacle Mission Church, Union Street, Handley, where a memorial service has been held.’

A photographic portrait of Bradshaw appears on a regimental memorial scroll; see Sotheby’s 29 July 1996 (Lot No. 349) for the Honours and Awards to Lance-Sergeant Chalmers, D.C.M.