Orders, Decorations and Medals

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (4673 CorI. C. Blackman, W. Riding Regt.) nearly extremely fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall.

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Wounded at Arundel, 24 February 1900.

The following extract is taken from the Regimental History, 1702-1992:

‘While 1 DWR had been engaged at Paardeberg, its Mounted Infantry Company saw a brisk little action near Arundel in Cape Colony. On 24 February the company was making a reconnaissance towards a Boer outpost named Plowman's Farm when it came under heavy fire from some 500 commandos. Lance Corporal Blackman fell wounded and lay exposed within 400 yards of the enemy. Heedless of Mauser bullets kicking up dust all round, Sergeant James Firth immediately dismounted and, running forward, carried Blackman to safety. Later in the day Second Lieutenant J.H.B. Wilson was likewise wounded in open ground, and once more Sergeant Firth braved hot fire to bring him in. On this occasion Firth did not escape unscathed, being shot through nose and eye. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery, the first to be gained by the Regiment since the Abyssinia campaign thirty-two years earlier. During the Plowman's Farm action the commander of the Mounted Infantry Company, Captain Wallis, was killed, while Second Lieutenant Wilson and eleven other ranks (including Sergeant Firth) were wounded.