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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 140

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. H. J. L. Oakes. W. Rid. Rgt.), lacquered and cabinet toned, very fine

Purchased Spink, November 1978.
Ex-Lovell Collection, Sotheby's.

Henry James Lionel Oakes was born on 30 April 1879, was educated at Rugby and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the West Riding Regiment on 20 May 1899, joining the 2nd Battalion in Burma. Oakes was transferred to the 1st Battalion in order to join the campaign in South Africa. Landing at Cape Town on 20 January 1900, he was promoted Lieutenant on 25 February 1900.

Oakes was severely wounded at Rhenoster Kop on 29 November 1900, Gazeteer gives more detail:

'A koppie, 1,650m high, and farm in the South African Republic (Bronkhorstspruit district; Gauteng), 35 km north-east of Bronkhorstspruit. Variant: Renosterkop (Afrikaans spelling as used on the 1: 250,000 map). After his raids on Balmoral* and Wilge River* stations on 19 November 1900, Veg-Gen B.J. Viljoen returned to his laager at Rhenoster Kop. On 28 November, two guns which Viljoen had located on a nearby hill were shelled by artillery from a column commanded by Maj-Gen A.H. Paget. Supported by another column from Middelburg (1)* commanded by Lt-Col G.D. Carleton, Paget engaged a force of some 1,200 burghers well entrenched on Rhenoster Kop; they comprised the Johannesburg commando (Cmdt W.J. Viljoen), the Johannesburg Police (Lt D. Smith), the Boksburg commando (Cmdt C.H. Mller), some of the Pretoria commando (Cmdt D.J.E. Opperman) and the commando of Asst Cmdt-Gen D.J.E. Erasmus. Paget attacked early on 29 November and his force became extended along a front of some five kilometres, pinned down by accurate fire from well concealed positions. That night the British entrenched on the line of advance. Short of ammunition and far from his transport, Viljoen was forced to retire through the night; British losses were 15 killed and 71 wounded whilst the Boers lost two killed and 24 wounded. Viljoen moved his laager to Windhoek (1)* in the Steenkampsberg, whilst the British fortified Rhenoster Kop and held it in strength for several months.'

Having earned a 'mention' from Field-Marshal Roberts (London Gazette 10 September 1901, refers), Oakes went on Half-Pay on account of his wounds; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£130