Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private H. Petherham, Somerset Light Infantry
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (1406 Pte. H. Petherham. 2-Som.L.I.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1406 Pte. H. Petherham. 2-Som.L.I.) mounted for wear, both somewhat later issues, the KSA with fixed suspension, polished, contact marks, good fine

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (2765 Pte. T. Rooke. 2-Som. L.I.) a somewhat later issue, contact marks, good fine (3) £120-£160

Henry Petherham was born in Churchill, Somerset, in 1868. He attested into the Somerset Light Infantry in 1886 and served at Home and in India, before serving in South Africa during the Boer War. He was discharged in 1902 but attested into the Monmouthshire Regiment for service during the Great War. In April 1916 he transferred into the Royal Defence Corps and was discharged in April 1919. In August 1920 he was admitted as an In-Pensioner to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where a replacement QSA was issued to him. He died in 1961, aged 91, in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

Thomas Rooke was born in St. George’s, Bristol, in January 1872. He attested into the 4th (Militia) Battalion in 1890, before attesting for the 1st Battalion the following month. He served at Home and in Gibraltar and India until being transferred to the Reserve in 1897. Recalled in October 1899 for service during the Boer War, he served in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion, and was wounded in the left hand at Colenso, resulting in the loss of a finger. He returned home on 12 April 1900 and was medically discharged the following June. In August 1914, he attested into his old regiment for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion from 11 January 1915, and saw later service with the Royal Engineers. Discharged in January 1919, he was later admitted as an In-Pensioner to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where a replacement QSA and Great War trio were issued to him. He died there in 1940.

Sold together with an original named group photograph of both recipients with other Chelsea Pensioners from the Somerset Light Infantry, taken at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in 1936.