The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals

Pair: Lieutenant J. W. Drury, 41st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, late 7th N.Z. Contingent

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut. J. Drury, 7/N. Z’land M.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. J. W. Drury, A.I.F.), a little polished, very fine (2) £280-320

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

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James Willoughby Drury was born in Plymouth, Devon in April 1878, from whence he made his way to New Zealand and found work as a printer in Auckland. He attested for the 7th N.Z. Contingent and, having been commissioned Lieutenant, was embarked in the S.S. Gulf of Taranto in April 1901. Brief service in the Transvaal ensued but he was invalided home in November of the same year - according to Drury on account of an injury to his knee caused by a ricochet bullet but his C.O. begged to differ when a claim for compensation was made by Drury around 1902.

In November 1915, he attested for the Australian Expeditionary Force at Brisbane, and was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant on the home establishment. In June 1917, however, he was embarked for England, where he served in the 41st Battalion until the year’s end. He was discharged as a consequence of an injury to a foot caused by a machine-gun tripod; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.