The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay

A good Great War M.C. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer (Regimental Sergeant Major) M. G. McNama, 2nd Battalion, formerly 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers, who was wounded during the Boer War and accompanied his regiment to France in August 1914

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (5701 Cpl., 1st Connaught Rang.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (5701 Clr.-Serjt., Con. Rang.) suspension claw tightened on this medal; 1914 Star, with clasp (5701 S. Mjr., 2/Conn. Rang.); British War and Victory Medals (5701 W.O.Cl.1., Conn. Rang.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (7143012 W.O.Cl.1., Conn. Rang.) the Boer War medals with contact wear and edge bruising, therefore about nearly very fine, otherwise very fine and better (7) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay.

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M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918 (Regimental Sergeant Major, Connaught Rangers.)

Morgan George McNama was dangerously wounded during the Boer War on 25 May 1902.

The following in relation to the action in which he received his wounds is extracted from Regimental Records of The Connaught Rangers, Boer War 1899-1901:

‘About a mile and a half from the Nek above the farm a few men with a white flag were to be seen on the hill and it was soon learnt that our patrol had suffered considerably at the hands of the Boers. ‘C’ and ‘E’ Companies held the ridges north of the farm, and while the wounded were being brought into the house the story was soon told. It appeared that finding apparently no Boers about, 2nd Lieut. Joyce had reached the farm. The owner assured him that none of the enemy had been seen for some days and pressed him to come in and have some coffee. This Joyce refused to do until he had been up the ridge which hangs over the south and west of Morgenzon. He, accompanied by Sergt. McNama, and leaving his 9 men at the foot of the hill with the horses, then ascended the slope by a narrow pathway. When quite close to the top fire was suddenly opened on them, but the first volley was harmless. They turned and ran down the hill but were both hit before they had gone many yards. Meanwhile the horses, many of which had been wounded at the first volley, stampeded and the men made a plucky rush towards their officer. But in a few seconds five more were hit and the Boers appeared on all sides of them, and the four unwounded were forced to surrender. The Boers of course rifled their pockets and took their money and anything else that appealed to them. The men say that they were well dressed and had many bandoliers. It was Odendal’s Commando which had been so nearly in our hands a few days before.’

During the Great War Morgan McNama served in France and Flanders with the 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers from 14 August 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c.