The Boer War pair awarded to Bombardier Alfred Delooze, “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, who was seriously wounded in the ‘V.C. action’ at Sannah’s Post on 31 March 1900

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Driefontein, Transvaal (15103 Dr. A. Delooze, Q. B., R.H.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (15103 Bomb: A. Delooze. R.H.A.) good very fine (2) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery.

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Alfred Delooze was born in India and attested for the Royal Artillery in Manchester on 24 April 1896, aged 22 years 9 months, a barman by trade. Posted to the Field Artillery Depot as a Driver, he transferred to “Q” Battery Royal Horse Artillery, on 23 October 1896, serving as a Driver with that battery in South Africa from 19 December 1899 to 6 October 1902. His papers confirm that he was ‘Seriously wounded at Sanna’s Post 31/3/00’, received the Queen’s medal with 3 clasps, and the King’s medal with 2 clasps. Delooze was appointed Acting Bombardier on 6 September 1900, and was posted to one-pounder Maxims on 6 March 1902. Transferred to 1st Class Army Reserve in April 1903, he was discharged on 23 April 1908.

Resulting from De Wet’s ambush of General Broadwood’s Brigade at Korn Spruit (Sanna’s Post), “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, behaved with great gallantry and managed to save four of its guns from an apparently hopeless situation. The conduct of the battery was praised by Brigadier-General Broadwood in his report on the action. As a result of this report, Lord Roberts took the unusual step of ordering the battery to ballot for the Victoria Cross, to choose one officer, one non-commissioned officer, one gunner and one driver to receive the coveted award, there being no other fair way to choose four from so many who performed with such heroism that day. As a result, Major Edmund John Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Charles Edward Haydon Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge, and Driver Horace Henry Glassock were each awarded the Victoria Cross. Driver Arthur Delooze’s name would have been in the ballot for the Victoria Cross to the ‘Driver’.

Sold with copied discharge papers.