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Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 5

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Transvaal (749 Tpr: C. W. Stewart 1st Scottish Horse.), suspension re-affixed, disc worn overall, fine

Charles Walley Stewart was born at Edinburgh in 1867 and was a plumber also serving in the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Scots, upon joining the Royal Scots on 12 January 1900, with regimental number 8171. He was discharged in South Africa to enable him to join the Scottish Horse on 7 April 1901, with whom he served until 20 June 1902. Stewart intended to live at 21 Scotland Street, Edinburgh upon his return home.

Stewart was wounded at Moedwil 30 September 1901, Gazetteer refers:

'A farm in the South African Republic (Rustenburg district; North West), 25 km west of Rustenburg. On the afternoon of 29 September 1901, Col R. G. Kekewich's column halted on the farm near a drift across the Selons River and made preparations for the defence of the bivouac site. The column comprised five companies of the 1st The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire) regiment, two squadrons of the Scottish Horse (a colonial unit), the 27th (Devonshire) company and 48th (North Somerset) company of the 7th Imperial Yeomanry and the 28th battery, Royal Field Artillery. Commanded by Asst Cmdt-Gen J.H. de la Rey, a force left Dwarsspruit on the night of 29/30 September 1901 to attack the British bivouac. The main assault led by Veg-Gen J.C.G. Kemp was from the bed of the Selons River on the west side of the bivouac. A patrol found by the 27th (Devonshire) company came across the advancing burghers and alerted the British troops. De la Rey had also sent two groups to outflank the British camp and one was reported to be in the rear of the camp. With a group of cooks, orderlies and batmen, Maj C. N. Watts, The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire) regiment soon discovered there was little danger from this quarter and swung round to attack the Boer left supported by details from the The Border regiment, Scottish Horse and Imperial Yeomanry. Wrapping up this flank, the Boer line was now enfiladed and the burghers began to retire.'

Boer losses were 11 killed, including Commandant T. P. Boshoff, 35 wounded and ten burghers taken prisoner; the British lost 63 killed and mortally wounded and 151 wounded including Kekewich. Private W. Bees, Sherwood Foresters, was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during this action.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£30