Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Palestine’ M.C. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Conquer, South African Air Force, late South African Mounted Rifles

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘277 B.S.M. E. Conquer, B. Btty. S.A.F.A., Palestine 18-9-18’; 1914-15 Star (Sjt., S.A.M.R.-F.A.B.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, M.I.D. (B.S.M., S.A.M.R.-F.A.B.); War and Africa Service Medals, with Protea Leaf (102869 E. Conquer); Coronation 1911 (4552 Rfm. E. Conquer, Cape M.R.); Jubilee 1935 (EX. No.120 W.O.I E. Conquer. M.C. S.A. Air Force); Permanent Force of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (No. 277 B.S.M., S.A.M.R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (No. 120 A.S.M., S.A.A.F.) mounted court style for wear, some with contact marks and edge bruising, very fine and better (10) £1000-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919. ‘... for distinguished service in connection with Military Operations in Egypt’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 January 1919 (Allenby). ‘... for their services during the period from 16th March, 1918, to 18th September, 1918’.

Permanent Force L.S. & G.C. Government Gazette 20 January 1922.

M.S.M. Staatskoerant 13 April 1933.

Edward Conquer was born in Gillingham, Kent, and educated at Rochester. He served in the London Irish Rifles from 1897 until he went to South Africa in 1902 and joined the South African Constabulary as a Trooper. He served in the S.A.C. until 1905 when he joined the Cape Mounted Rifles in 1906 as a field, machine and mountain gunner at Umtata. In 1911 he came to London for Coronation as a representative of the C.M.R. On his return in 1912, he was posted to Auckland Park for a course in gunnery. In 1913 when the Great Strike was on the Reef, he was stationed at New Kleinfontein where the trouble first broke out. His next post also involved him with strikers, this time the coolies at Mount Edgecombe. Whilst there, he was one of the escort which conducted Mahatma Ghandi from Ottawa Station to the immigration authorities who deported him. In 1914 Conquer was posted to Pretoria as a Troop Sergeant in the 4th Battary of the S.A.M.R. Artillery. On the outbreak of war, Conquer with the battery saw action in German S.W. Africa, taking part in the battle of Pforteberg and the capture of Windhoek. Returning from S.W. Africa, Conquer was posted as Battery Sergeant-Major to the Brigade of Artillery for service in East Africa, taking part in the battle of Lolkissali. After returning to South Africa, he was then posted to the 75th Indian Division in Egypt and took part in the Third Battle of Gaza, the advance and capture of Jerusalem and advance up the plain of Escalon. For his services he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the M.C. After the war in 1920 Conquer transferred to the South African Air Force. In March 1933 Sergeant-Major Conquer retired at his own request. During the Second World War, he served as a Captain at Voortrekkerhoogte Air Station; he was later promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and was Commanding Officer at that station. On his W.W. 2 medals is a Protea Leaf emblem which indicates a commendation - this not confirmed.

Sold with copied service research.