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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 187

(x) Three: Battery Quartermaster W. T. Manley, 2/1 Welsh Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, late 43 Battery and 116 Battery

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (72017 Sgt W. T. Manley, 43rd Bty: R.F.A.), final clasp sewn onto carriage; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901; South Africa 1902 (72017 Serjt: J. W. [SIC] Manley, R.F.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (72017 B.Q.M.Sjt: W. T. Manley. R.F.A.), overall contact wear and edge bruising, nearly very fine (3)

William Thomas Manley was born at Bow, London in 1871, the son of Thomas William and Maria Manley. Oddly the family waited until 5 October 1881 to baptise Manley and his two sisters, Isabella and Annie Maria in one large ceremony at All Hallows Church, Tower Hamlets. He enlisted with the Royal Artillery at Preston on 29 March 1889 having first served with 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, a Militia Battalion. On enlisting he was given the rank of Driver but after the Brigade became part of the Royal Field Artillery in July the same year he was mustered as a Gunner on 7 November. Posted to India on 18 February 1890 with 54 Brigade, he served there for over five years. Promoted Bombardier on 6 November 1895 the day before he left India for Britain Manley was posted to the Depot, remaining for over four years. Married here on 25 April 1897 to Florence Gamble at Cheriton, Kent. He was promoted Corporal at the Depot on 1 April 1898 and posted again that same year to 43 Battery on 19 August. Promoted Sergeant 28 September 1899 he served with this rank throughout the Second Boer War, with his Brigade arriving on 27 January 1900 and taking part in some notable actions such as the Battle of Bothaville. Following the Boer War Manley was posted to 117 Battery and promoted Battery Quartermaster Sergeant on 9 May 1903. He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. on July 1907 while serving with 116 Battery. Temporarily discharged on 18 April 1913 he soon re-nlisted on the outbreak of the Great War. Re-joining at Bulford with his old rank on 9 September 1914 he served in Britain for the duration of the war in a number of different units including 152 Nottingham Brigade and 2/4 West Riding Brigade. Manley was finally discharged on 31 December 1919; sold together with copied medal rolls and extracts related to the Royal Field Artillery during the Boer War.

Further entitled to the British War and Victory Medals.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£220

Starting price
£140