A rare Spanish War 1898, Boer War and Great War group of five awarded to Major Seymour Norton-Taylor, 10th Canadian Infantry, late 1st Florida Infantry and Imperial Light Horse

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut., I.L.H.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut., 10/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); U.S.A., Spanish War Service Medal 1898, the edge officially numbered ‘30475’, generally good very fine and rare (5) £450-550

Seymour Norton-Taylor was born at Bovey Tracey, Devon, on 26 November 1878. He enlisted into the American Army, as a Private, at Tampa, Florida, on 20 May 1898, and was posted to “C” Company, 1st Regiment of Florida Infantry. He was discharged from this unit at Tallahassee on 3 December 1898. He subsequently obtained a commission in the Imperial Light Horse and served with that regiment throughout the Boer War, in which it especially distinguished itself at the battle of Elandslaagte and during the siege of Ladysmith.

On the outbreak of the Great War, Norton-Taylor enlisted with the 10th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, as a Lieutenant, and arrived in France on 10 February 1915. He was wounded in action on 13 March 1915 and invalided to England. He rejoined the 10th Battalion in France on 9 June 1915, having been promoted to Captain on the same day. He was accidentally wounded on 23 October 1915, and once again invalided to England, where he was posted to the 9th Reserve Battalion, and later to Alberta Regimental Depot. He returned to Canada in September 1919 and was honourably released on 29 October 1919.