Three: Sergeant-Bugler J. W. Donnelly, Oxfordshire Light Infantry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (2701 Corl. J. W. Donnelly, Oxford: Lt. Infy.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2701 Serjt:-Bug: J. Donnelly. Oxford: L.I.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2701 Sjt: Bglr: J. W. Donnelly. Oxford. L.I.); together with a Burma Rifle Association Medal, silver; a Madras District Medal, bronze; and an Army Temperance Association Medal, with top Excelsior riband bar, good very fine (6) £180-£220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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John William Donnelly was born in Folkestone, Kent, in 1873 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 29 March 1887. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India and Burma from 21 November 1887 to 6 March 1898; in South Africa during the Boer War from 22 December 1899 to 4 October 1902; and again in India from 22 September 1903 to 27 March 1908. The Regimental Chronicle of 1904 notes that ‘in addition to winning the Aggregate Championship, Sergeant-Bugler Donnelly won the Bengal Presidency Rifle Association Silver Medal, and the Field Glasses presented by Colonel Penno for the best shot amongst British N.C.O.s at 600 and 800 yards.’ He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 189 of 1905, and was discharged as a Sergeant-Bugler on 16 April 1908. He died on 26 May 1877.

Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.