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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 145

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, South Africa 1901 (27328 Tpr: R. Mattinson. Imp: Yeo:), minor edge nick, nearly extremely fine


Robert Mattinson was born around 1881 at Tamworth, the son of Caroline Mattinson of 3 Calcutta Terrace, Tamworth, Staffordshire. He attested for the Imperial Yeomanry on 19 February 1901, and witnessed active service in South Africa from 15 March 1901. Initially reported 'dangerously ill' (London Standard, refers), Mattinson died at Durban from enteric fever on 31 May 1901, whilst serving with the 61st (South Irish Horse) Company, 17th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. He was not alone; the contamination of water supplies meant that ultimately, more men died of enteric - more commonly known today as typhoid - than were killed in action (The Enteric Fevers (1800-1920), by A. Patrick, refers), 8,225 succumbing to the disease, the majority in static postings; sold with copied service record and Imperial Yeomanry Roll for the Boer War, 1899-1902, by K. J. Asplin.

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Sold for
£580

Starting price
£70