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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 53

Seven: Warrant Officer Class II M. Hearley, Rifle Brigade

Queen's Sudan 1896-98 (3726 Pte M. Hearley 2/R.Bde:); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Laings Nek, Belfast (3726 Pte M. Hearley, Rifle Brigade); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3726 Pte M. Hearley. Rifle Brigade.); 1914-15 Star (B-795 Sjt M. Hearley. Rif:Brig:), the number double struck; British War and Victory Medals (B-795 A.W.O. Cl. 2. M. Hearley. Rif. Brig.); Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, unnamed as issued, heavy pitting and contact marks overall, nearly very fine (7)

Maurice Hearley was born at Shoreditch, London in 1877 and enlisted at 4 May 1895 at London, being posted to the 2nd Battalion. His first overseas posting was to Malta on 24 September 1897 and from there the Battalion was ordered to Egypt on 12 July 1898 for service in the Sudan. They formed part of Gatacre's British Division at the Battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898, stationed of the left of the British line.

The defeat of the Mahdi resulted in the British withdrawal from the country and the Rifle Brigade was posted to Crete on 21 September 1898. They were still there the next year when tensions with the Boers reached fever pitch and the Battalion was posted to South Africa accordingly on 2 October 1899.

The war began on 11 October and the Battalion was rushed to join the British army in Ladysmith, finding themselves cut off there by the Boer advance. They were in action during the action at Waggon Hill, reinforcing the Manchesters, Gordons and Imperial Light Horse there. They later saw heavy fighting at the Battle of Belfast, seeing high casualties in the process.

Hearley was later posted to Egypt on 2 September 1902 and from their finally sent home to Britain on 18 March 1903. He served there until he was finally discharged on 3 May 1907. Returning to the colours on the outbreak of the Great War, he re-enlisted on 25 August 1914 with the Rifle Brigade.

Entering the war in France on 20 May 1915 with the 8th Battalion, they saw action at Delville Wood in 1916, Arras and Passchendaele in 1917 and the Hundred Days in 1918. Hearley survived the war and was finally discharged on 25 February 1919; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480