A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Captain W. E. Footner, Army Veterinary Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., A.V.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with small size M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.) good very fine (4) £700-900

M.C. London Gazette 4 June 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazette 25 May 1918.

The following is extracted from an obituary published in The Journal of The South African Veterinary Medical Association: ‘The death of Captain Footner, which occurred at the Berea Nursing Home, Durban, on 25 March 1939, came as a great shock to his many friends and colleagues. Although he had been in indifferent health for some time, good hopes for his complete recovery were entertained up till a day before he died.

Footner was born in London 58 years ago, qualified at the Royal Veterinary College, London, in July 1909, and joined the R.A.V.C., attaining the rank of Captain. At the outbreak of the Great War he went to France and was attached first to the Cavalry Division and then to the Guards. He was awarded the Military Cross and was mentioned in despatches for gallant and conspicuous services.

After the war he came to South Africa as a settler on the Sundays River Irrigation Scheme, but abandoned farming and joined the Union Veterinary Division in January 1922. After serving for brief periods as Government Veterinary Officer in Bloemfontein and Pretoria he was transferred to Durban.

He was an esteemed member of the Durban S.P.C.A. and always displayed a keen desire to alleviate suffering in both man and animals. He displayed particular interest in humane slaughtering of animals and invented the Footner Electric Collar, which is considered to be a great step forward in humane slaughtering.’

Sold with six pages of copied service papers and copy of m.i.c. which confirms that he first served in France from 10 December 1914.