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

Pair: Private A. E. Scholtz, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry, who died at sea of cardiac failure on 13 May 1917
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. A. E. Scholtz. 1st. S.A.I.) in flattened named card boxes of issue, extremely fine

Pair: Private H. D. Williams, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry, who died of pneumonia on 27 February 1917
British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. H. D. Williams. 1st. S.A.I.) glue residue to reverse of both, nearly 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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Alfred Ethelbert Scholtz was born at Sea Point, Cape Town, in 1883, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 10 September 1915. Posted to the Western Front, he suffered a severe gunshot wound to the head at Delville Wood on 19 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The recipient’s papers add: ‘Wounded by bullet, fell unconscious, was unconscious on and off for 10 days. Had several operations at the C.C.S. and the 20th General Hospital, France, where bone was removed. Since then other splinters have come out. On Jan. 19th. had operation in Richmond Hospital for removal of more bone fragments.’

Discharged medically unfit, Scholtz sailed for South Africa on 4 May 1917, but died a few days into the journey. Aged 28 years, he is commemorated upon the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton.

Herbert Dale Williams was born in Umtata, Transkei, Cape Province, around 1891, and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 31 October 1916. Posted to England, he was recorded as seriously ill at Aldershot on 17 February 1917. Sent to the Connaught Hospital, he died a few days later. Aged 26 years, he is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.

Sold with copied service papers for both recipients.