Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut. J. D. Faskally, Irish Gds.) slight edge bruise, good very fine £240-280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals relating to the Boer War formed by two brothers.

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John Douglas Faskally was born in Daventry, Northampton on 3 March 1878, the son of George Bleek Faskally, a surgeon. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Militia, 3rd Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in 1899, he transferred to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1899 and thence to the Irish Guards in 1901. Serving in the Boer War, he was present at the operations in the Orange Free State, February-May 1900; operations in Transvaal, east and west of Pretoria, July-29 November 1900, including the action at Zilikats Nek; and operations in the Orange River Colony, May-29 November 1900. He resigned from the Army on 2 August 1902. Faskally died on 19 August 1947 at ‘7 Relton Mews, Montpelier, London’.

The Irish Guards were raised as a Regiment in the year 1900 by order of Queen Victoria, in honour of the brave Irishmen who fought in the British Army in the campaign in South Africa. The creation of the Irish Guards was ordered by Her Majesty following a suggestion in 1900 from Lord Wolseley that the Irish Regiments of the British Army should wear the shamrock in their headdress on 17th March (St. Patrick's Day) each year as a mark of The Crown's appreciation of their exceptional gallantry at Ladysmith, South Africa during the Boer War. During the battles at Ladysmith and Bloemfontein the Irishmen of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, Dublin Fusiliers and Connaught Rangers had particularly distinguished themselves by their bravery. An Irish M.P. then suggested in Parliament that as there were already regiments of Scots Guards and English Guards, a regiment of Irish Guards should also be created. With some copied research, including roll extract and photocopied photograph.