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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 28

The Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to Trooper C. Thompson, Bushveldt Carbineers, late Victorian Mounted Rifles

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (362 Tpr: C. Thompson. Victorian M.R.), very fine

Cornelius Thompson is listed in Bill Woolmore's The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse which states:

'Trooper No. 305 (BVC): Australian. Previous service: Enlisted from Warracknabeal in Victoria as Trooper No. 362 in the 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen, serving with them from 23 May 1900 to 22 June 1900. Enlisted at Cape Town on 3 July 1901- no attestation paper available. Discharged at Cape Town on 25 February 1902 after service 239 days.'

During Thompson's tenure with this second unit Lieutenants Harry "Breaker" Morant and Peter Handock were accused of shooting Boer Prisoners following their surrender. Thompson, interestingly left the unit the day before these two men were executed by firing squad.

Notably while the roll does note the entitlement to a K.S.A. there are no records suggesting that it was issued. Rather it appears the clasps South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 were issued. Thompson returned to Warracknabeal, Victoria, Australia after his service.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480