Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (4) (Pte. F. T. Vilonel. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. H. Wiles. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. W. H. F. Winny. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. A. E. W. Young 1st. S.A.I.) glue residue to the reverse of all, very fine and better (4) £80-£100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 1st Regiment, South African Infantry.

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Francis Tobias Vilonel was born in Dewertsdorp around 1893 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Pretoria on 9 January 1917. He embarked at Cape Town for England per Durham Castle on 23 March 1917, and was killed in action on the Western Front on 8 December 1917. The son of Johannes Phillip Vilonel, he is buried at Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand.

Harry Wiles was born at Oudtshoorn in 1897 and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 24 August 1915. Initially posted to Egypt, he spent a period of time under the medical supervision of the 1/1st South Midland Field Ambulance suffering from stomach complaints. Disembarked at Marseilles 20 April 1916, he fought on the Western Front during the Battle of the Somme and was killed in action on 18 July 1916. He is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial.

William Herbert Fletcher Winny was born in Grahamstown, Cape Province, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 25 May 1917. Sent to England, his active service was delayed due to a hernia. He subsequently crossed the Channel to France on 1 April 1918 and was killed in action on 19 April 1918. He is commemorated upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Alfred Ernest William Young was born in Port Elizabeth and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 5 January 1916. Posted to the Western Front, he was killed in action on 10 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Aged 19 years, he is buried at Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois, in the Pas de Calais.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.