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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 150

A 'Heilbron casualty's Q.S.A.' awarded to Private W. Parris, 56th (Buckinghamshire) Company, 15th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, later Provisional Transvaal Constabulary, who was wounded during the heavy fighting around the town at the end of 1900

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Tranvsaal (10262 Pte. W. Parris, 56th Cpy 15th Imp: Yeo:), pawnbrokers marks to extreme left of disc, good very fine

William Parris was born at Willingdon, Eastborne, Sussex in 1877 and worked as a Groom prior to enlisting on 12 February 1900 at Buckingham. Posted to the 56th (Buckinghamshire) Company, 15th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry he entered the war in South Africa only a month later on 13 March. Joining General Hamilton's advance through the Orange Free State this unit arrived in the town of Heilbron in May 1900.

Boer forces under Christiaan de Wet were still in the area however, leading to repeated clashes. In one such engagement Parris was wounded in the leg, with a note from the surgeon attached to his records stating that the 'wound in shin open but is healing well'.

It is a mark of how well established the commandos were in the area that by September they were once again occupying the town. They were driven out the next month however the fighting in the area remained heavy for much of the war. Parris did not remain with the Imperial Yeomanry but was seconded for service with the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary. This unit was deployed in the Pretoria District, doubtless accounting for his Transvaal clasp.

Parris remained in South Africa for almost two years, returning to Britain on 21 January 1902 due to poor health. He was invalided from service at Glasgow on 16 May 1902; sold together with copied casualty report, transcribed gazette entry and copied roll of men from 15th Imperial Yeomanry joining the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary.

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Sold for
£260

Starting price
£100