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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 288

(x) Pair: Rifleman W. Spencer, King's Royal Rifle Corps

British South Africa Company's Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (6715 Pte. W. Spencer, 3/K.R.R. Corps); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (6715 Pte. W. Spencer, K.R.R.C.), dated clasp unofficially riveted, contact wear and polished, nearly very fine (2)


William Spencer was in Derby, Derbyshire in December 1870 and enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in August 1891, aged 20 years.

He was posted to the 3rd Battalion and served on the Isle of Wight until enlisted in a special Mounted Infantry Force destined for Rhodesia in April 1896 - he was one of 29 men selected from the ranks of his battalion. He subsequently saw action with the Mashonaland Field Force (Medal) and returned to England in June 1897, when he was placed on the Army Reserve.

Recalled on the advent of hostilities in South Africa, Spencer was drafted to the 3rd Battalion, K.R.R.C. and arrived at Cape Town in November 1899. He was once again selected for duties in the Mounted Infantry, as part of 4th Brigade Mounted Infantry Company; he would later serve in Gough's Mounted Infantry. As such, he was heavily engaged in the relief of Ladysmith operations and beyond (Queen's Medal & 7 clasps). He was discharged in May 1902 and died at Spondon, Derbyshire in April 1939; above details courtesy of the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, Winchester.


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Sold for
£700