Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private R. A. Chandler, 2nd Regiment, South African Infantry, who died of disease on 15 December 1917
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (A/Sjt. R. A. Chandler. 2nd S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of both, good very fine

The British War Medal awarded to Lance-Corporal J. Stevenson, 2nd Regiment, South African Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 19 July 1918
British War Medal 1914-20 (L/Cpl. J. Stevenson 2nd S.A.I.); Memorial Plaque (John Stevenson) traces of adhesive to reverse of both, nearly extremely fine (4) £100-£140

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 2nd Regiment, South African Infantry.

View
Collection

Robert Alfred Chandler, a foreman on the South African Railways, embarked at Cape Town for England per H.M.T. Euripides on 20 April 1917. Initially posted to the 1st South African Infantry, he transferred to the 2nd Regiment on 10 August 1917 and served on the Western Front during the Battle of Passchendaele. Surrounded by a wasteland of mud borne of excessive autumnal rainfall, his health soon began to deteriorate; evacuated to General Hospital at St. Omer, Chandler died of cerebral spinal meningitis at 6.10 a.m. on 15 December 1917. Aged 24 years, he is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France.

John Stevenson, a boilermaker, was born in Fife, Scotland, and attested for the 2nd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 18 November 1915. Sent to Bordon for training, he was arrested by the civil powers at Kirkcaldy after deserting his Regiment. Tried by D.C.M. on 11 May 1916, he was found not guilty of desertion but guilty of absence without leave and was sentenced to 28 days of detention. Posted to the Western Front with “E” Company, Stevenson was wounded in action on 20 September 1917. Evacuated to London suffering from a wound to the buttock, he returned to the trenches and was killed in action on 19 July 1918. He is buried in Meteren Military Cemetery, France.

Sold with copied service records for both recipients.