Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 12002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 217

Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, three clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: G.H. Thurston, Rly: Pnr: Rgt.), darkly toned, good very fine Estimate £ 200-300 Lieutenant George H. ´Pham-Pham´ Thurston, born Australia, 1869; was employed as an engineer by Fraser and Chalmers of Chicago prior to moving to Tranvaal, 1893; was associated with Consolidated Gold Fields Company, from 1899 and was Chief Engineer, Simmer & Jack G.M. Co., Ltd; one of the founder members of the Railway Pioneer Regiment he was taken prisoner of war at Rhenoster River, 7.6.1900, and on the latter date ´the 4th Derbyshire Regiment was attacked at Roodewal, Kroonstad... a detachment about 70 strong of the Railway Pioneer Regiment was present and in the fighting, which ended in the capture of the post. They lost Captain Gale and 4 men killed and about 16 wounded´ (The Colonials in South Africa 1899-1902, J. Stirling, refers); Thurston escaped twelve days later; after the war he continued his employment with the Consolidated Gold Fields Company, and was based in Johannesburg.

Sold for
£250