The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. De Villiers, Cape Garrison Artillery

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Lt: Col: A. P. De Villiers, Cape G.A.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, V.R., ‘Victoria Regina et Imperatrix’ (Lieut. Col. A. P. de Villiers. Cape Garrison Arty.) this on original investiture pin and clearly never worn, good very fine (2) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery.

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‘The death occurred this morning, at his residence at D'Urban Road, of Lieutenant Colonel A. P. de Villiers, Commanding the Cape Garrison Artillery. The deceased gentleman, who was a member of the firm of Lindenberg and De Villiers, auctioneers, was an enthusiastic Volunteer, having survived the Colony and the Empire for twenty-two years as a citizen soldier. He worked his way from private in the ranks to Commanding Officer, a record of which he was always proud as also of the fact that, though not of British blood, he was a British subject. His connection with Volunteering commenced in 1879 when he joined the Cape Town Volunteer Engineers, saw service with his corps in the Transkei Rebellion of 1879-80, and afterwards became successively lieutenant, captain, adjutant, major, and ultimately lieutenant-colonel, to which latter post he was appointed on the recommendation of Colonel Forbes-Taylor, R.A. He rendered great assistance in the inception and establishment of the new corps of Garrison Artillery, of which unit he became first head. In 1899 he became entitled to the long service medal, and was duly invested with it - on paper. As a matter of actual fact, he never received it, though nearly two years have elapsed since he became entitled to it. He was a very popular officer, beloved by his men, and his general presence was welcome everywhere. At the outbreak of the war he went into active service with his corps. Last August he was found to have contracted a severe kidney affection, and was sent by his medical advisers to Europe to recruit, but his insidious complaint was too much for him, and after spending over six months under medical care - nine weeks of which he passed in Netley Hospital - he returned home to the Colony. His demise - at the early age of 41 - will come as a shock to many of his old friends, who will find it hard to realise that the cheerful and buoyant "A.P. (Apie)" of the old days is no more. He leaves a widow and three daughters.’

Sold with details of obituary notice (undated but circa 1903-10) and funeral arrangements and several copied photographs of De Villiers in uniform.