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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 746

Three: Private J. E. W. Klemt, 5th Mounted Brigade, South African Forces, who took part in the German South West Africa Campaign and likely witnessed the surrender at Windhuk on 9 July 1915

1914-15 Star (Pte. J. E. W. Klemt, 5th M. Bge.); British War and bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. J. E. W. Klemt, 5th M. Bge.), very fine (3)

J. E. W. Klemt served as part of the 5th Mounted Brigade of Orange Free Staters under Brigadier-General H. W. N. 'Manie' Botha. On 1 July 1915, the South Africans, including the 5th Mounted Brigade finally caught up with the enemy at Otavi before the enemy could properly deploy their 3,400 men, 36 artillery guns, and 22 machine-guns against 3,200 South Africans and 8 artillery guns; after a brief confrontation and lacking water and supplies, the Germans were forced to abandon their positions. They formally surrendered a few days later.

South African casualties during the campaign were 266 dead and a further 263 wounded. German casualties were 103 killed, 890 taken prisoner, 37 field guns and 22 machine-guns captured. South Africa celebrated wildly and British Imperial Forces in France cheered the victory.


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Sold for
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