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Auction: 18002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 217

(x) The 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment

Six service companies of the Queen's embarked from Ireland for the Cape in June 1851. Setting out in three contingents, many of the men experienced harrowing journeys, not least those embarked in the Birkenhead; the smallest contingent in the Sumner experienced a fire and did not reach East London until September 1851.

In early September, 180 officers and men of the 2nd, with supporting detachments from other regiments, were sent to patrol the Committee's Hill; finding themselves confronted by a large body of warriors, they were forced to extend in skirmishing order and the whole patrol was gradually brought into action. A heavy fusillade from the enemy concealed in clumps of trees and the bush caused numerous casualties, including three mortally wounded, the men eventually being forced to withdraw.

Within a week, the 2nd found themselves sweeping along the line of the Fish River, attempting to clear out the rebels. According to Gordon Everson's published roll, 'In the desperate fighting which followed, Oldham and 24 men of the 2nd were killed and 23 other ranks wounded before the 6th Regiment came to their aid and they were extracted.'

The regiment continued to find themselves in the thick of the action; before the end of the year they took part in operations in the Kroome and Waterkloof mountains, and also been engaged in the expedition against Kreli in January 1852. This was followed with a further expedition against Mosesh. Following the conclusion of the campaign, the 2nd saw a further eight years' service in the Cape before being embarked for China in 1860.

South Africa 1834-53 (Color Serjt. Geo. Davis, 2nd Regt.), suspension claw re-affixed, contact marks and edge nicks, fine or better


George Davis served in the Third War in South Africa.

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Sold for
£750