A Collection of Medals for The Battle of Elandslaagte, 21 October 1899

Four: Major C. F. Wilkins, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Lieut., 6/Drgns.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt., Innis. Dgns.); British War and Victory Medals (Major), mounted as worn, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (4) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for The Battle of Elandslaagte, 21 October 1899.

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Cecil Francis Wilkins was present at Elandslaagte, Rietfontein, Lombard’s Kop and the defence of Ladysmith as a Trooper in the Natal Mounted Rifles. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons in May 1900, he was quickly back in action at Laing’s Nek, in addition to operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony from February 1901 to May 1902, in which lattter period he was advanced to Lieutenant - and became the only member of the regiment to be awarded the “Elandslaagte” clasp. He then served with the Regiment in Ireland and Egypt, but resigned his commission in December 1906, no doubt having got to know Lieutenant L. E. G. Oates - of future Antarctic fame - in the interim.

Re-employed in the Great War, Wilkins first entered the French theatre of war as a Major in February 1918, his MIC entry revealing service with 311 Brigade, R.F.A., while he also appears to have served in the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry in the 1920s; sold with Medal & clasp roll verification.