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Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 16

The Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to Captain (Quartermaster) V. C. Soggee, M.B.E., M.S.M., Royal Army Service Corps, a long-served and prominent member of the Royal Tournament

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (18433 Pte. V. C. Soggee, A.S.C.), a few edge nicks, very fine

[M.B.E.] London Gazette 25 May 1956.

[M.S.M.] London Gazette 1 January 1917.

Valentine Charles Soggee - or 'Val' to his friends and comrades - was born in 1883 at Notting Hill, London. Young Valentine joined the Essex Regiment in 1900, latterly serving with the 7th Hussars, before transferring to the Army Service Corps with whom he served in South Africa during 1902.

In 1906 he attended the Military Tournament (latterly the Royal Tournament) for the first time and married later that year.

Upon the outbreak of the Great War Valentine served in France with the Advance Motor Transport Depot, Royal Army Service Corps from 15 September 1914, earning a brace of 'mentions' (London Gazette 22 June 1915 & 1 January 1916, refer), to go with his M.S.M. and a promotion to Staff Sergeant-Major (1914 Star Trio).

He seems to have maintained an association with the Royal Tournament throughout. In 1930 he was appointed Assistant to the Secretary, being involved with the show's organisation. The Army Service Corps Journal of 1937 gives more detail:

'With him [the Secretary] are two very old friends of the Corps..."Val" Soggee also joined the Staff in 1907 and, continuing until retirement, took up the position of Assistant Chief Clerk from 1930. Soggee is perhaps better remembered for his connection with the Tournament Press arrangements, but of later years his services have been of a more versatile nature, and he continues to be one of the permanent pillars of the show.'

Commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) and advanced Captain (QM) during the Second World War, he does not appear to have served overseas. The Royal Tournament re-started after the war and Valentine continued in his post. Awarded his M.B.E. for his service with the Royal Tournament over a period of some26 years as a permanent member of the Staff, he was 73 years old. He was quoted in the Evening Standard in June 1956:

'I love the Army and the Tournament and nothing would make me happier than a last-minute decision to let me carry on.'

Valentine died in early 1969 at Lambeth.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£50