Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private C. J. O’Shea, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry, who died of wounds on 15 April 1918
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. C. J. O’Shea 1st S.A.I.) glue residue to reverse of both, very fine

British War Medal 1914-20 (A/Cpl. E. R. Middleton 1st. S.A.I.; 23612 Pte. E. C. Love. 1st S.A.I.) the BWM to Love a late issue, glue residue to reverse of both, very fine (4) £70-£90

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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Christopher Joseph O’Shea was born in Berkshire, England, in 1878, the brother of Mrs. Kate Williams of River View Terrace, Observatory, Cape Town. Posted to the South African Pioneer Regiment 26 May 1916, he struggled with military discipline and was soon in trouble with the Camp Commandant for breaking out of cantonments and going absent without leave. Detailed to embark from Durban for Kilindini per H.M.T. Professor on 30 June 1916, he missed the departure time and was forced to board the Ingoma on 26 July 1916.

Transferred to England in September 1917, O’Shea was sent to the Western Front with the 2nd South African Infantry. Sometime transferring to the 1st Regiment, he received a dangerous wound to the chest on 15 April 1918 and died a short while later. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

Edmund Rawstone Middleton, a clergyman, was born in Brindisi in the Orange Free State in 1890, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry on 19 August 1917. Transferred to the 2nd Regiment 19 August 1917, he was discharged at Maitland on 27 May 1919.

Edward Clarence Love was born in Cape Province on 25 June 1900, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at East London on 17 September 1918. Posted as an absentee from 11 November 1918, his papers state: ‘discharged on compassionate grounds 17.12.18.’

Sold with copied research for all three recipients.