A Collection of Medals to The South Wales Borderers

Three: Captain A. R. Peel, South Wales Borderers, attached Nigerian Mounted Infantry, killed in action at Kosseoa, Cameroons, 17 November 1914

1914-15 Star (Capt. S. Wales Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) nearly extremely fine, rare casualty (3) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to The South Wales Borderers.

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Alan Ralph Peel was born on 7 July 1886, the eldest surviving son of Herbert Peel, of Taliaris Park, Co. Carmarthen. He was educated at Cheltenham College, and Sandhurst. Gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers on 24 January 1906 and was promoted to Lieutenant in December 1907 and Captain in September 1914. With the 1st Battalion S.W.B. he served in India, 1907-09 and at Pretoria, 1910. Then attached to the South African Mounted Infantry, he was based at Harrismith and Bloemfontein, 1911-12. In 1912 he was seconded to the West African Frontier Force (Nigeria Regiment) and in 1914 was seconded to the Nigerian Mounted Infantry.

Captain Peel was killed in action, leading a bayonet charge, at Kasseoa, near Marna, North Cameroons, 17 November 1914. His commanding officer wrote of him:

‘I had made application for him to join me, knowing his ability. You have the honour of knowing no soldier could have met a more gallant death, viz., at the head of his men, leading the charge and showing an example of great bravery. He was buried with all honours by the Capt. of the French company with whom he was operating at the time.’

His name is recorded on the Zaria Memorial, Nigeria. With copied research.