Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Private S. Sutcliffe, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, later Royal Navy Yacht Patrol, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (768 Pte. S. Sutcliffe, K.R.R.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (768 Pte. S. Sutcliffe, K.R.R.C.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1902-04, Jidballi (768 Pte. S. Sutcliffe, K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (S. Sutcliffe. Asst. Ck. M.F.A.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sam Sutcliffe) last in case of issue; together with two National Rifle Association Rifle Clubs bronze medals, both unnamed, one in Elkington, London, case, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine or better (8) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Paul Bentley Collection.

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Sam Sutcliffe was bon in Stainland, near Halifax, Yorkshire, in July 1878. He attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 12 February 1898, and was posted to the 4th Battalion. Transferring to the 2nd Battalion in October 1899, he served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and saw further service in Somaliland 1902-04, including the action at Jidballi, 10 January 1904. Transferring to the Reserve in 1906, he re-engaged for a further four years in 1910, and was finally discharged on 11 February 1914, after 16 years’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Sutcliffe served with the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary as an Assistant Cook in the hired yacht H.M.S. Eileen, as part of the Royal Navy Yacht Patrol, from 16 June 1916 until the cessation of hostilities. In civilian life he was a postman in Winchester and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement. He died in 1955.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient in Royal Naval Reserve uniform.