A Collection of Queen’s South Africa Medals for the Relief of Ladysmith

Pair: Sergeant J. Howell, 61st Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (12476 Sgt. J. Howell, 61st. Bty: R.F.A.) impressed naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (12476 Serjt: J. Howell. R.F.A.) impressed naming, light contact marks, very fine (2) £180-£220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Queen’s South Africa Medals for the Relief of Ladysmith.

View
Collection

The 61st Battery was a howitzer battery which arrived at Cape Town on 6 December 1899. It saw fighting at Potgeiter’s Drift, Spion Kop, Vaal Kraantz and the Tugela Heights in support of Barton’s Brigade. The battery accompanied General Buller to Lydenburg and took part in the engagements in that neighbourhood. In his despatch of 30 March 1900 and his final despatch, General Buller very highly praised Major Hamilton Gordon and his battery's work. In 1901 the Battery remained in the Eastern Transvaal. Eighteen members of the battery lost their lives during the war in South Africa.