The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Pair: Gunner J. B. Peters, ‘Q’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, who was severely wounded at Sannah’s Post on 31 March 1900

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (50235 Gnr: J. B. Peters, Q, B., R.H.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (50235 Gnr: J. B. Peters. R.H.A.) mounted as worn from a contemporary silver brooch bar, polished, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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James Bowen Peters was born in the Parish of St James, Bristol, and attested for the Royal Artillery in Bristol on 24 August 1888, aged 18 years 2 months, and was posted 4 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He transferred to ‘J’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, in February 1896, and to ‘Q’ Battery R.H.A., in July 1897, serving as a Gunner with that battery in South Africa from 19 December 1899 to 6 January 1902. His papers confirm that he was ‘severely wounded at Sanna’s Post 31/3/00’, received the Queen’s medal with 6 clasps, and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in Army Order 172 of 1904. He was discharged at Newbridge on 31 August 1907.

Resulting from De Wet’s ambush of General Broadwood’s Brigade at Korn Spruit (Sannah’s Post), “Q” Battery Royal Horse Artillery behaved with great gallantry and managed to save four of its guns from an apparently hopeless situation. The conduct of the battery was praised by Brigadier-General Broadwood in his report on the action. As a result of this report, Lord Roberts took the unusual step of ordering the battery to ballot for the Victoria Cross, to choose one officer, one non commissioned officer, one gunner and one driver to receive the coveted award, there being no other fair way to choose four from so many who performed so heroically on that day. As a result, Major Edmund John Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Charles Edward Haydon Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge, and Driver Horace Henry Glasock were each awarded the Victoria Cross. Gunner J. B. Peters’ name would have been in the ballot for the Victoria Cross to the ‘Gunner’.

In The Times of 14 January 1902, Peters is mentioned as being among those whose medal was presented by Lord Roberts at a special parade of ‘Q’ Battery in London. Sold with copied discharge papers, roll of “Q” Battery officers and men present at Sannah’s Post, and copy of The Times article of 14 January 1902.