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Auction: 12002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 278

Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, five clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (12787 Gnr. W.H. Langdon. 78th Bty., R.F.A.), good very fine Estimate £ 120-160 78th Battery - ´Joined Buller in Natal in time to take part in the operations about Venter´s Spruit, Spion Kop, Brakfontein, Vaal Krantz, and the final fourteen days´ fighting about Colenso. In his despatch of 8th February 1900 General Buller said, "Lieutenant Archdale, 78th Battery, is especially mentioned for the manner in which he withdrew the battery waggons under heavy enfilade fire, which struck two of the three waggons and several horses." Lieutenant Blake Knox in his ´Buller´s Campaign´, referring to the retirement at Brakfontein, says: "It so happened that as three of the guns of the 78th Battery were retiring when one of the enemy´s shells struck a gun-carriage and disabled it and at the same time wounded Captain Dawson. Despite a terrific hail of shrapnel the brave gunners repaired the carriage, and putting their horses in motion, rescued their weapon and brought it under the shelter of one of the kopjes, the 73rd covering its retirement.´ (British Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902, J. Stirling refers).

Sold for
£110