Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (4) (A/Sjt. W. H. Crago. 2nd S.A.I.; Sjt. C. O. G. MacKay. 2nd S.A.I.; Pte. J. J. Reardon. 2nd S.A.I.; Pte. G. F. Tonkin 2nd. S.A.I.) traces of adhesive to reverse of all, 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 2nd Regiment, South African Infantry.

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William Henry Crago was born in Duloe, Cornwall, around 1869, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry (aged 48 years) at Durban on 10 April 1917. A former fireman in the Durban Fire Brigade, he was admitted to hospital in December 1917 suffering from rheumatism and a contusion to the back. He was discharged medically unfit a short while later, his disabilities attributable to service in France with the 2nd Regiment.

Charles Oscar Gray MacKay was born in Harrismith in 1882 and attested for the 2nd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 12 December 1915, stating 4 years of previous service with the Natal Naval Volunteers. Posted to the Western Front 6 August 1916, he was taken Prisoner of War during the German Spring Offensive on 24 March 1918 and was repatriated on 8 December 1918.

John Joseph Reardon was born in King William’s Town in 1893 and attested for the 2nd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 25 August 1915. Posted to Egypt and France, he was discharged at Maitland on 22 May 1919.

George Foster Tonkin was born in Durban in 1889 and attested for the 2nd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 23 October 1915. Sent to England, he had an operation on varicose veins at Frencham Hill Hospital on 22 August 1916 and was discharged medically unfit a short while later. He likely returned home to Natal and employment as a Signalman on the S. A. Railways.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.