The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (H. Neill, 675 3rd Contg. N.Z.R.R.), officially engraved in large upright capitals, as issued from H.M.S. Ophir, a little polished, very fine £160-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals.

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The recipient received his Medal during the Royal Visit to New Zealand undertaken by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in H.M.S. Ophir in June 1901, in his case at Christchurch on the 24th; such awards were not inscribed with the recipient’s name and had to be returned to the authorities for appropriate engraving at a later date.

Henry ‘Harry’ Neill, a shearer from Cust, Canterbury, New Zealand, attested for the 3rd N.Z. Contingent for service in South Africa and was embarked in the S.S. Knight Templar in February 1900. A member of No. 5 Company, he served as a Saddler and was present at the actions at Johannesburg and Diamond Hill, in addition to other operations, and afterwards, in May 1902, served in ‘E’ Squadron, 10th Contingent, as a Saddler-Sergeant. He died in February 1943 and is buried in Ruru Public Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation, including extensive correspondence in respect of his Medal & clasps - it appears the authorities sent him a second medal in error.