Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Q.S.A. awarded to Sergeant W. J. Darling, ‘Q’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, who fought in the famous action at Sannah's Post in which ’Q’ Battery won no fewer than 4 Victoria Crosses

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (78913 Sgt. W. J. Darling, Q, B., R.H.A.) suspension claw tightened, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £800-£1,000

Provenance: Jack Wadey Collection and with his typed label; Buckland Dix & Wood, September 1994.

Sergeant William John Darling fought in the famous action at Sannah's Post in which ’Q’ Battery won no fewer than 4 Victoria Crosses. Darling, then a Bombardier, was second in command of ‘B’ Gun and, when his sergeant was wounded, is likely to have taken over command of his gun. In The Times of 14 January 1902, Darling is mentioned as being among those whose medal was presented by Lord Roberts at a special parade of ‘Q’ Battery in London.

Darling was born at Barrackpore, East India, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Woolwich on 19 April 1890. Appointed to the Royal Horse Artillery, he served abroad in India from January 1893 to November 1895. He was posted to “Q” Battery as a Gunner on 20 March 1896, was appointed acting Bombardier in September 1896, and confirmed in that rank on 7 October 1899. He served with “Q” Battery in South Africa from 9 December 1899 to 6 January 1902, having been promoted to Corporal in April 1900 and to Sergeant the following month. He was discharged as a Sergeant, having been found medically unfit for further service, on 7 December 1909.

Sold with copied discharge papers, medal roll extracts, roll of “Q” Battery officers and men present at Sannah’s Post, and copy of The Times article of 14 January 1902.