The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 1st Regiment, South African Infantry

Pair: Lance-Corporal G. D. Geach, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (L/Cpl. G. D. Geach. 1st. S.A.I.) glue residue to the reverse of both, very fine

Pair: Private L. T. Russell, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. L. T. Russell. 1st. S.A.I.) glue residue to the reverse of both, good very fine (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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Gilbert Douglas Geach was born in Butterworth, Cape Province, in 1894, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 24 January 1916. His army service record states earlier service in German South West Africa with the Southern Rifles and Hartigan’s Horse. Joining his unit on the Western Front 2 August 1916, Geach was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 7 December 1916 and is recorded as wounded in action on 12 April 1917 - just days after being reprimanded for ‘losing his mess tin by neglect’. Admitted to hospital suffering from a broken arm caused by a gunshot wound, he was evacuated to England and admitted to the 1st London General Hospital at Camberwell. The wound ended his campaign and he was discharged unfit for further military service a short while later.

Sold with copied service record.

Leonard Tree Russell, a railway guard, was born in Port Elizabeth and attested for the 1st South African Infantry on 28 August 1917 (stating 6 month’s service with Nesbitt’s Horse during the Boer War), and served on the Western Front from 2 April 1918. Buried by a shell on 13 April 1918, he was admitted to No. 63 Field Ambulance and subsequently evacuated to England per H.S. Brighton suffering from contusions and damage to his chest wall. Sent to Bordon Camp, his health failed to fully recover - notably a shortness of breath and tightness when breathing - and he was sent to hospital at Wynberg in January 1919 for further analysis and attention.

Sold with copied service record.