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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 157

The Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to Private C. A. Monk, Imperial Yeomanry, who was slightly wounded at Krismiskop on Christmas Day 1901

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (33696 Pte C. A. Monk. 35th Coy Imp: Yeo:), toned, good very fine

Charles Alfred Monk was born at Mortlake, Surrey. He enlisted on 8 February 1901 serving with the 11th Battalion 35th (Middlesex Yeomanry). He served in South Africa from 8 March 1901 during his time there he was wounded on 25 December 1901 at Tweefontein where he suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, as a result of this he was found unfit for further military service and was sent Home on 12 March 1902. He was discharged on 26 April 1902.

A force of some 500 men of the Imperial Yeomanry with a gun (79 btty) and maxim all under the command of Maj F.A. Williams, 1st South Staffordshire Regiment, was in camp on the farm protecting the head of a blockhouse line under construction from Harrismith to Bethlehem. The detachment was camped on a hill, Groenkop, with precipitous sides to the west and south and a gentle, well entrenched slope to the east. On the night of 24/25 December 1901, detachments from eight commandos comprising some 500 burghers under the command of Chief-Cmdt C.R. de Wet silently scaled the steep west face in stockinged feet taking the defences completely by surprise. Led by Cmdt W. Mears and Cmdt G.A. Brand, the burghers completely overran the camp within an hour. De Wet left at dawn with some 240 prisoners as well as two guns, 20 waggons, supplies of ammunition and tents, and 500 horses and mules. British casualties were 57 killed (including Williams) and 88 wounded; the Boers lost 14 killed and 30 wounded; among those killed were Cmdt G.J. Olivier of the Bethlehem commando. This action is known to Afrikaner historians as that of Groenkop or Krismiskop, Groenkop having become known as Christmas Kop.

Sold with copied service papers.

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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£70