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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 562

An unusual pair to Sergeant T. Filmer, Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, late Provisional Transvaal Constabulary and Imperial Light Infantry, who served with three units in as many years

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Tranvsaal, Laing's Nek (684 Serjt. T. Filmer. Impl: Lt. Infy.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (256 Corpl. T. Filmer. Kitchener's F.S.), good very fine (2)

Thomas Filmer enlisted with the Imperial Light Infantry on 15 November 1899, this unit saw heavy fighting only two months later on during the Battle of Spion Kop. Moreover, during the night withdrawal from the feature a confusion in orders saw the I.L.I. ordered back to their posts exposing them to danger for far longer than necessary. Continuing to serve until 10 October 1900 Filmer was discharged for service with the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary.

This unit was formed after the British advance on Pretoria for service in this district hunting Boer Commandos and performing police duties. The intended duration of service with this unit was three months with an option to extend for another three, Filmer took this option, remaining with them until 15 January 1901.

His final posting during the conflict was with Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts, which he joined on 16 January 1901, around a month after it was formed. This unit saw heavy fighting throughout the guerrilla phase of the conflict, commanded by the legendary frontiersman, Johan Wilhelm Colenbrander - Rhodes' guide into Rhodesia and one of the few men to have killed a lion with his bare hands - their reputation as ferocious opponents, hard riding and drinking toughs made them feared in the Transvaal. Their clashes and fights with General Christiaan F. Beyers and his Commando were one of the epic features of the Guerrilla War. No other Irregular unit had such a fine record for the capture of convoys and prisoners.

Filmer was promoted Lance Corporal with them on 17 August 1901, he had clearly finally found the right unit as he was to serve with them for nearly two years. Discharged on 8 July 1902 he disappears from the historical record with his medal issued to his mother on 28 January 1903; sold together with a transcribed record.

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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£140