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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 111

A poignant Queen's South Africa medal awarded to Driver A.D. Baseley, the only man of his Battery to be killed in action during a fierce artillery duel with the Boers at the battle of Spion Kop

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Relief of Ladysmith (88666 Dvr: A.D. Baseley, 63rd. Bty: R.F.A.), good very fine

According to 'The Times History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902' which gives a full and detailed account of the action at Spion Kop the 19th, 28th and 63rd Batteries Royal Field Artillery acted in support of Lt-Gen. Clery's 2nd Division, taking up a commanding position on 'Three Tree Hill' from which to bombard the Boer positions. Indeed, it was from this same hill that Clery and his fellow divisional commander Sir Charles Warren observed the rough fortifications thrown up by the enemy and considered their strategy.

Unfortunately this caught the attention of the opposing Boer guns and at 1.15pm two pieces of artillery and a pom-pom opened up on the hill 'scattering the crowd of generals, staff officers and spectators there. For twenty minutes or so they engaged in an artillery duel with the six batteries on the hill...shifting from time to time to avoid the attentions of the British gunners, but never silenced' ('The Times History', refers). Driver Baseley was clearly killed during this 20-minute counter-battery engagement, having the unfortunate distinction of being the only artilleryman noted as such on the Battery rolls.

Sold with copied paperwork and extracts from 'The Times History'.

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Sold for
£480

Starting price
£240

Sale 21001 Notices
Killed in action at Venter's Spruit on 20 January 1900, not as stated on the printed Roll.