Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Serjeant T. Chant, Royal Garrison Artillery, late South African Constabulary

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (755 3rd Cl. Tpr., S.A.C.); 1914-15 Star (43686 Bmbr., R.G.A. ); British War and Victory Medals (43686 Sjt., R.A.); Defence Medal, unnamed, very fine (5)
£200-250

Tom Chant was born in Stockbridge, Southampton on 29 March 1882. He enlisted into the South African Constabulary at Bloemfontein on 8 March 1901 and served as a 3rd Class Trooper until his discharge at Bloemfontein on 8 March 1904. A Labourer by occupation he enlisted at Andover, Hampshire on 1 September 1914. He married Delcie Ada Palmer at Walthamstow Parish Church on 1 June 1915; he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 10 July the same year. Sergeant Chant, 90 Heavy Battery R.G.A. was transferred to the Class Z Reserve on 14 April 1919. He was to serve in the armed forces for a third time during the Second World War. Tom Chant died at Freemantle Farm, Houghton, Hampshire on 26 March 1966, aged 83 years.

With a quantity of original papers, including: Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates; S.A.C. Discharge Certificate; Regiment of Artillery ‘The Small Book’; Certificate of Transfer to the Reserve; letter of thanks from the C.O. of the 80th Brigade R.G.A.; Soldier’s Demobilization Account paper; a leather wallet; together with a number of photographs - including one as a Sergeant during the Second World War.