Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Bilingual Victory 1914-19 (4) (2/Lieut G. P. Hale.; Pte. G. M. Hobson. 1st. S.A.I.; L/Cpl. V. Prince. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. J. M. Slabbert 1st. S.A.I.) the second with replacement ring suspension, glue residue to reverse of all, generally very fine and better (4) £80-£100

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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Gerald Page Hale was born in Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia, around 1894, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 4 October 1916, stating previous service with the South African Horse from 19 July 1916 to 3 October 1916. Posted to the Western Front on 21 February 1917, he suffered a severe bullet wound to the right thigh on 14 April 1917 and suffered the effects of a gas shell at Marriers Wood on 23 March 1918. Discharged at Maitland in 1919, he likely returned to civilian employment as a motor mechanic.

Guy Moxley Hobson was born in Graaf-Reinet in 1897 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 7 January 1916 after brief service with the Graaff-Reinet Commando in German South West Africa. Disembarked at Rouen 27 July 1916, he was awarded 3 days confined to barracks for losing by neglect two new gas helmets during the Battle of the Somme. Admitted to hospital on 22 March 1918 due to the effects of a gas shell, he was awarded 14 days field punishment No. 1 for insolence in September 1918 and was evacuated to England with a shrapnel wound to the hand the following month.

Vernon Prince was born in Cape Town and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 30 August 1915. He served in France from 16 April 1916 and was wounded in action at Delville Wood on 18 July 1916. His medical notes add: ‘G.S.W. causing compound fracture of lower ends of right radius and ulna near the wrist joint. Operated on 4 times under general anaesthetic for removal of dead bone and for putting in a plate... Has had massage and electric treatment for 3 months.’

Johann M. Slabbert embarked for the Western Front as part of the 1st South African Infantry on 7 December 1915. Thrice wounded in action, including two severe wounds to his legs in April 1917 and again on 20 October 1918, he returned home to South Africa per Durham Castle on 26 July 1919.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.