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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 386

Six: Corporal T. G. Hurley, South African Heavy Artillery, late Royal Horse Artillery, who served with 'Q' Battery at Sanna's Post

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (18070 Bomb. T. G. Hurley, Q, B., R.H.A.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (18070 Gnr: T. G. Hurley. R.H.A.); 1914-15 Star (Pte. T. G. Hurley 7th. Infantry.); British War and bi-lingual Victory Medals (Cpl. T. G. Hurley. S.A.H.A.); Defence Medal 1939-45, light contact marks, nearly very fine and better (6)

Thomas George Hurley was born at Dorchester and attested for the Royal Artillery on 13 January 1897, after brief service with the Kent Militia. He initially served at home where he was twice injured, firstly to the finger of his right hand whilst on duty, and secondly a contusion of his left ankle whilst off duty on 19 February 1898.

Posted to South Africa on 19 December 1899, he served as Acting Bombardier in 'F' Section of 'Q' Battery at Sanna's Post. At a time when the artillery pieces had no shields, he was fortunate to survive the encounter, in particular the Boer rifle fire.

It has been suggested that every man of 'Q' Battery was killed or wounded during the action, however this was not the case. What is agreed is that very few men were finally able to limber up and withdraw the guns following the 4 hours of artillery action. This is testament to the physical and mental exhaustion associated with very little, if any, sleep the previous night, and the intensity of the Battle. 'Q' Battery lost 4 officers wounded, 3 other ranks killed and 27 wounded, with a further 9 captured. One or two of those wounded later died from their injuries.

Hurley remained in South Africa following the cessation of hostilities and later served with the 2nd Kimberley Regiment and the South African Heavy Artillery during the Great War; sold with copied service papers and correspondence from the Royal Artillery Institution, Woolwich, dated 1969.


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Sold for
£900