Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Acting Sergeant S. Austen, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry
1914-15 Star (Pte. S. Austen 6th Infantry); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (A/Sjt. S. Austen. 1st. S.A.I.) glue residue to reverse of all, good very fine

Three: Lance-Corporal R. B. Fockens, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry
1914-15 Star (Pte. R. B. Fockins [sic] 2nd Infantry.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (L/Cpl. R. B. Fockens. 1st. S.A.I.) glue residue to reverse of all, good very fine (6) £100-£140

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 1st Regiment, South African Infantry.

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Sidney Austen was born in Woolwich, London, in 1880, the husband of Ada Austen of 187 Loop Street, Cape Town. He attested for the 1st South African Infantry in his home city on 17 July 1917 and sailed for England per Dunvegan Castle on 13 September 1917. Duly fitted with dentures, he crossed the Channel and served on the Western Front as Acting Sergeant. His service record notes that he was recorded as missing in action whilst serving with “C” Company on 24 March 1918 during the opening stage of the German Spring Offensive, but he was able to rejoin his unit soon thereafter. Admitted to hospital (reason unknown) on 9 April 1918, he was discharged on 31 May 1919.

Sold with copied service record.

Reginald Brandfort Fockens was born in Beaufort West in 1895 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 26 August 1915. Posted to Egypt from 30 December 1915 to 15 April 1916 and France from 16 April 1916 to 18 July 1916, his active service was cut short when he dislocated his left knee when behind the lines of the Somme battlefield. Treated at No. 3 General Hospital at Rouen, the seriousness of the injury soon became clear, his medical notes adding:

‘Internal derangement kneejoint - While doing bayonet practice at Rouen with foot firmly implanted on ground with left knee forward, body swung round rotating outwards on left knee. Knee gave way with dull aching sickening pain.’

Transferred to hospitals in Tooting and Richmond, Fockens briefly returned to France from 9 August 1917 to 21 August 1917, but was discharged permanently medically unfit a short while later.

Sold with copied service record.