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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 54

(x) Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (Rev: E. Bronsgeest. C. to F.), very fine

Edward Bronsgeest was born in Germany about 1849 and educated at the English College. Ordained by his Lordship the Bishop of Bruges on 21 December 1872, Bronsgeest served as a Roman Catholic Priest at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Waltham Cross, and began his career by taking on small challenges relating to local people. He argued in the Barnet Press of 1 January 1881 that two children named Clarke should be allowed to enter divine services, whilst a girl named Butler should have her faith altered from Church of England to Roman Catholic upon the creed register 'having proof that the latter was the real religion' of the girl.

By the late 1880s Bronsgeest's focus had shifted to a far grander scale. On 8 May 1887, at Ponder's End, he opened an entire school for Catholic children, 'and as there is no chapel in the locality, a weekly service will be held there, to the joy of some hundred Catholics living in the neighbourhood, to whom the nearest church or school is distant four miles' (The Tablet, 14 May 1887, refers). By September of that year it was clear that the flock had soon outgrown their home and Bronsgeest appealed to the generosity of the public, claiming 'School held in a miserable cottage, which, unless suitable premises are provided, must be closed. Mass upstairs.'

Suitably accommodated, but with his aspirations undiminished, in 1889 Bronsgeest took out a further advert in The Tablet claiming 'Spiritual Distress at Ponder's End - School Chapel must be built; 184 children in temporary premises'. An appeal went out to raise £1100: 'Whoever has at heart the salvation of Christ's little ones, send a donation to the Rev. E. Bronsgeest, Waltham Cross, Herts.'

Having in June 1897 decided to move to South Africa, Bronsgeest's advertised his home for rent:

'A most desirable Residence, with handsome reception rooms, billiard-room, twelve bed and dressing rooms, good stabling, ample supply of pure water from artesian well, and every modern convenience. Rent for four years £170, afterwards £200 per annum. Apply the Rev. E. Bronsgeest, Waltham Cross.'

Bronsgeest subsequently served as a Chaplain to the Forces in the Boer War; his Medal was issued in November 1904.

Back home by 1905, he continued to improve the lives of local people:

'A Priest strongly recommends a man, 37 years of age, of respectable appearance and address, married, at Stock-keeper, Kennel-man, Motor-man (mechanical repairs), or any position of trust. Address Rev. E. Bronsgeest, Waltham Cross, Herts (The Tablet 10 June 1905, refers).

Sold with copied research, including 1881 census details and newspaper articles.


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Sold for
£250