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

British War Medal 1914-20 (4) (Pte. J. Hayes. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. A. B. Hoolahan. 1st. S.A.I.; A/L/Cpl. G. Pullen. 1st. S.A.I.; Pte. E. H. Rochat 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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James Hayes was born in Beaconsfield, Cape Province, around 1891, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 10 August 1915. Posted to the Western Front, he was killed in action on 12 April 1917 and is buried at Brown’s Copse British Cemetery, Roeux, near Arras.

Andre Bernard Hoolahan was born in Cape Town in 1895 and initially served with the Cape Cycle Corps before attesting for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 28 August 1915. Posted to the Western Front, he was killed in action on 10 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial.

Garnet Pullen, a miner, was born at Middelburg, Mpumulanga, on 13 November 1895, and served on the Western Front with the 1st Regiment, South African Infantry. He was killed in action on 8 December 1917 and is buried at Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le-Grand.

Ernest Henry Rochat served on the Western Front with “D” Company, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry, and was killed in action aged 19 years on 17 October 1918. The son of Horace Louis Rochat of George Street, Graham’s Town, Cape Province, he is buried at Ors British Cemetery.

Sold with copied service records for all four recipients.