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Auction: 12002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 166

Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, one clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (Capt. A.H. Goldie, 14th How´z Bty: R.F.A.), virtually Mint State, with a photographic image of the recipient in uniform Estimate £ 700-800 Captain Adrian Hope Goldie, born 1869; educated at Charterhouse; joined the Royal Artillery, 1889; Lieutenant 1892; Captain 1899; accompanied the 14th Battery to South Africa, November 1899, where it joined the Natal Field Force; he was killed in action whilst serving with his battery at the battle of Colenso, 15.12.1899; The Times History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902, Vol. II, gives the following, ´The field batteries were in a perilous plight. After shooting wildly for the first minute or two the enemy began to pour in a most deadly fire, for they could scarcely have wanted a better target than was presented by the line of twelve guns drawn up with parade-like regularity in the open. The guns, on the other hand, were in a slight hollow and in a far worse position to reply than if they had been 1000 yards further back. Under a terrific volume of fire officers and men began to fall. The men did not suffer so much, but in the first few minutes Colonel Hunt and three other officers were wounded, and Captain Schreiber and Captain Goldie killed. But the way the guns were fought that day was a splendid example of skill and discipline. Concentrating, at 1250 yards range, on Fort Wylie, from which most of the fire came, they kept up so steady a hail of shrapnel, and made such good practice, that after about fifteen minutes they actually succeeded in considerably beating down the enemy´s fire, though not less than 1000 rifles, and perhaps double that number, were directed upon them´; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adds the following about Goldie´s battery, ´Capt. Goldie dropped dead, so did Lieut. [sic] Schrieber. Colonel Hunt fell shot in two places. Officers and men were falling fast... One gun on the right was still served by four men who refused to leave it. They seemed to bear charmed lives; first one gasped and fell against the trail, and his comrade sank beside the wheel with his chin upon his breast. The third threw up his hands and pitched forward upon his face, while the survivor a grim, powder-stained figure, stood to attention looking death in the in the eyes until he, too, was struck down´; Captain Goldie´s name is inscribed on the tablet in the War Memorial Cloister erected at Charterhouse. Captain Goldie was entitled to a Q.S.A. with ´Relief of Ladysmith´ clasp only. It would appear that the medal was issued with the ´Defence of Ladysmith´ clasp due to human error. The medal appears entirely as issued. Provenance: Spink, October 1991

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£2,800