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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 54

(x) Pair: Private W. Steel, 5th Royal Irish Lancers

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4298. Pte. W. Steel. 5 Lcrs.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4298 Pte W. Steele. 5th Lancers.), very fine (2)

Walter Steel was born in 1872 in Fulham, Middlesex and previously worked as a labourer before he enlisted into the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. He then attested into the 5th Lancers on 27 December 1893, aged 22. He served at home between December 1893 and September 1894 before then serving in India between September 1894 and March 1898. He was not entitled to the India General Service Medal. He then served in South Africa between March 1898 and August 1902 before then returning home to complete his service with the 5th Lancers between August 1902 and December 1905. In South Africa, he was posted to a number of different stations including Transvaal and Orange Free State. He also served at the Defence of Ladysmith and the Battle of Elandslaagte.

This latter battle on 21 October 1899 was one of the first British victories during the Second Boer War. The Boers had invaded Natal and occupied the railway station at Elandslaagte on the 19 October 1899 thus cutting communications to the British Army at Ladysmith. In response, the British, under the command of Major General John French and Colonel Ian Hamilton, arrived at Elandslaagte shortly after dawn. When the British made their assault, the sky was grey with pouring rain. The men fought their way through the Boer's barbed wire, many getting maimed and killed in the process. The Boers, overwhelmed, retreated, some already waving white flags. The British cavalry charge made contact and several Boers got cut down in their retreat. Two Boer guns fell into British hands and General Kock of the Boers was captured, not long before dying of his wounds after the battle. This could have been a decisive victory for the British had they not themselves retreated afterwards due to fears of another Boer force, thus discarding their advantage.

After his service in South Africa, Steel returned home and finished his service. On the 24 January 1906, he enlisted into the Army Reserve for four years. Upon leaving that in 1910, Steel enlisted into the Special Reservists on the 27 August 1914 upon the eve of the Great War. He was now 42 years old and had been working as coal porter. He was posted on four separate occasions throughout the war, with his last posting on the 31 October 1918. He survived the war and died several years later, on 3 July 1942 from pneumonia at the Royal Lancers Hospital. He was 68 years old.

Please note the variations of spelling on his varying service records - he is recorded as both 'Steel' and 'Steele' throughout his military career.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320