A Collection of Awards to the Worcestershire Regiment formed by Group Captain J. E. Barker

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Captn. E. J. H. Spratt, 29th Foot.) nearly extremely fine and regimentally very rare £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Worcestershire Regiment formed by Group Captain J. E. Barker.

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Edward James Henry Spratt was born at Malta on 30 August 1846, son of Admiral Thomas Abel Spratt, R.N. He was appointed Ensign in the 29th Foot, by purchase, on 3 March 1865, and served subsequently at Malta, and in Canada and the West Indies, becoming Lieutenant in December 1868, and Adjutant in June 1870. He was promoted to Captain in August 1878, and two months later appointed for Special Service in South Africa, where he served until 20 February 1880, and was a Sub-Director of Transport throughout the Zulu War of 1879. He generally served on the lines of communication and at the Durban base of operations during the campaign, but he was present with the 2nd Division in the engagement at Ulundi. In the operations against Sekukuni, he was present, as Orderly Officer to Colonel Russell, commanding the troops, at the storming of the stronghold, and capture of the Fighting Kopjie, being mentioned in despatches London Gazette 16 January 1880:

‘My acting Orderly Officers for the day Commissary Reeves, Captain Spratt, 29th Regiment, Captain Lawrell, 4th Hussars (killed), and Captain Christian, Frontier Light Horse, rendered me most valuable assistance, and carried my orders to the different parts of the field under a very heavy fire with the greatest coolness and accuracy.’

He was advanced to Brevet Major on 24 July 1880, and served in the Boer War, 10 January to 6 June, 1881, as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master General, in the Transvaal. He rejoined his regiment, newly designated the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, in India in November 1881, and served there, with periods of home leave, until March 1895, latterly in command having been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1891. In October 1897, as a Colonel, he was called up from half-pay to command the 8th and 40th Regimental districts at Warrington, a position he held until January 1901. Colonel Spratt died in London on 6 May 1827, aged 80.

Sold with extensive research including several copied portrait photographs.