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Auction: 12002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 83

Six: Captain W. Townsend, Royal Field Artillery Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, five clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (90932 Sgt. W. Townsend, 75th Bty: R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. W. Townsend. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. Townsend.), rank officially corrected on VM; Army Long Service & G.C., E.VII.R. (90932 B.Q.M.Sjt: W. Townsend. R.F.A.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., light contact marks, generally very fine or better (6) Estimate £ 280-320 Captain Walter Townsend, born 1876; served as Battery Quartermaster Sergeant with the 75th Battery Royal Field Artillery during the Boer War and ´At Modder River the 75th had 2 killed and 12 wounded. Three officers gained mention by Lord Methuen, 2 of whom were wounded. In the latter part of 1900 the battery was employed about Commando Nek and other places north-west of Pretoria. On 3rd December 1900 two guns were with a convoy on the Rustenburg road when attacked by a strong force. The slender escort took up a position on a kopje covering the road, and the enemy were eventually driven off. Lord Kitchener said the escort fought with great gallantry, the enemy, who were also brave, coming close to the guns and being killed with case-shot at 50 yards.´ (British Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902, J. Stirling, refers); commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery, 27.9.1914; served with the 50th Brigade Royal Field Artillery in the French theatre of War, from 1.5.1915; Lieutenant, 9.6.1915; subsequent service included with the 9th Divisional Ammunition Column, who served with the 9th (Scottish) Division (M.I.D. London Gazette 1.1.1916 and 14.12.1917; Belgium, Croix de Guerre); retired Captain 6.9.1919.

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£600