Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State (12144 Shg. Sth. H. Brazier, 65th Coy. 17th Impl. Yeo.) edge bruising, very fine £400-500

No. 65 (Leicester) Company, 17th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry.

Henry Brazier, who was born at Droitwich, Worcestershire and enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry in February 1900, aged 21 years, was killed in action near Driekoppen on 21 February 1901, an incident recalled by Sharrad H. Gilbert in Rhodesia & After:

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Leicester Regiment and Yeomanry formed by the late Trevor Harris.

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‘It was during the chase of De Wet that Shoeing-Smith H. Brazier of the 65th met his death. For a time the columns had lost touch with the flying Boers, and on 21 February were marching by Driekoppen, with their scouts feeling in all directions for the enemy. Brazier, the outside left flanker, rode to Elsie Vlaakte farm and suddenly found himself in the midst of five of the enemy, who sprang from their concealment not ten yards from the horse’s head, with pointed rifles and a peremptory summons to “Hands up.” Brazier was riding a favourite horse “Marmalade”, an animal of which he was very proud. Indeed before starting on this, his last ride, he had patted the neck of his steed saying, “I shan’t be captured whilst I have you under me.” Trusting in the fleetness of his horse, when suddenly confronted by the Boers, he sharply wheeled round, and putting in his spurs, rode for his life. But the attempt was a hopeless one with the distance so short. One of the enemy put up his weapon and shot him through the heart before his steed had taken half-a-dozen strides ... ’