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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 866

(x) An interesting group of three awarded to Lieutenant J. B. Perring, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps and South African Infantry, whose broke both legs in a severe aviation accident in 1919 but later gained considerable acclaim as a sporting manager in South Africa

1914-15 Star (Pte. J. B. Perring 8th. Infantry.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. B. Perring. R.A.F.), nearly extremely fine (3)

John Baxter Perring was born on 19 June 1893 at Johannesburg, the eldest son of Charles Cambert Perring. Educated at Marists College, he attested for the 8th Infantry (1st Battalion, Transvaal Scottish) on 21 August 1914 and was, by family repute, selected as a bodyguard to General Jan Christian Smuts. Serving for seven months in German South West Africa until the capitulation of Erich Victor Franke near Khorab on 9 July 1915, he transferred at Cape Town to the South African Heavy Artillery on 23 August 1915 and spent the next two years training and serving as a Gunner on the Western Front.

Discharged to a commission with the Royal Flying Corps on 4 November 1917, Perring survived the war but was seriously injured in May 1919 when he was involved in a serious air accident. Breaking both legs, he was admitted to Swanage Hospital and was discharged from the R.F.C. on account of medical grounds on 11 October 1919.

The smashing of both of his legs ended a solid sporting career, but unperturbed, he placed his energies for the next 40 years into the administrative side of sport. Once described as 'an extremely useful bowler and batsman' with the Transvaal Wanderers, Perring was later feted by ex-Springbok Eric Rowan as 'One of the best managers it was ever my good fortune to play under.' (The Staff Reporter, obituary of J. B. Perring, refers)

Perring also served as Secretary on the first Executive Board of the Transvaal Association for the Control of Professional Boxing. He died on 15 September 1965; sold with copied service papers and research, together with small silver fob, engraved 'J. Perring, Marist Brothers. Johannesburg Inter Schools Third League 1904', by Croneen, New Brompton, 9ct. gold and enamel fob, engraved to reverse 'Transvaal, Cadet Bisley - 1906 - The Ligenwood Cup - won by J. B. Perring', by Heydenrych, Johannesburg, and two silver fobs engraved to reverse 'M.B.S. 1. C.G.C. 1905' and 'M.B.S. 1 C.G.C. 1906'.

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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£60