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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 174

(x) Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, S. Nigeria 1902-03 (Dr M. Eustace S. N. Regt.), very fine

Marcus John Eustace was born at Dublin in February 1864 and has a large entry on Europeans in East Africa:

'Bought practice in Alresford, then went to Persia under CMS, then to Quetta, then to East Africa to stop a smallpox epidemic. Then to South Africa, and then up the Niger for the Colonial Office. In 1903 went to Widnes and got job as a foundry worker under an assumed name, suffering from ague 3 times weekly. No doctor would take him as an Assistant. When a man's arm was broken he set the limb, so he was found out and encouraged to practice. The wholseale firm from which he got his drugs put him in the bankruptcy court.'

Eustace served with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War (31448) serving in South Africa between 14 March 1901 - 21 August 1901 when he discharged himself at his own request at Johannesburg. He is entitled to a Q.S.A. with clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901. He intended to live at 24 Angel Road, King Street, Hammersmith, London, however a further medal roll shows a Civil Surgeon of the name M. Eustace also entitled to a South Africa 1902 clasp so it is likely to be him and he stayed on in South Africa for the duration of the war. He died at Widnes in August 1915. It was reported he thought the malaria he was suffering from would be cured by physical work, which drove him to manual work.

Details of his reports featured in Building Hospitals in Persia and British India, 1865-1914.

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

Sold for
£420

Starting price
£210