The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (1476 Pte. E. A. Littlejohn, C.I.V.) traces of lacquer, good very fine £100-£140

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

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Edgar Alexander Littlejohn was born in Islington, Middlesex in 1879. A bank clerk by occupation, he enlisted into the 4th Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1899 and served with their detachment in South Africa during the Boer War in No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, City Imperial Volunteers. He was invalided home to England in September 1900.

The City Press first reported on Littlejohn’s condition on 7 July 1900:
‘Is dangerously ill at Bloemfontein. Educated at Mercers School, and there joined the cyclist section of the Cadet Corps, K.R.R.C., acting as dispatch rider at Easter Manoevres. For the last two years he has been in the clerical departments of the Union Bank of London. Present at the taking of Jacobsdaal, in action at Paardeberg and the march to Bloemfontein. At Karree he was on out post duty for six night out of seven, in the the wet and cold. He broke down and was sent to Bloemfontein for rest and got a job in the Military Parcels Department.’

Then on 28 July 1900:
‘Had dysentery and broncho-pneumonia. In Irish Hospital, Bloemfontein.’

And on 15 September 1900:
‘Returned home sick, on S.S. Assaye.’