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Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 76

Four: Private H. Small, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was wounded in the Boer War and was killed in action on 24 April 1915

Queen's Sudan 1896-98 (4362. Pte. H. Small. 1/Northd. Fus:); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Belfast, Modder River, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4362 Pte. H. Small. North'd: Fus:), unofficial rivets; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4362 Pte. H. Small. North'd Fus:); Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (4362. Pte. H. Small. 5th. Fusers.), very fine (4)

Harry Small was born at Newcastle in 1875 and enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, having served with the Militia, on 22 November 1894. Having served in Sudan, Small thence served in South Africa during the Boer War, being severely wounded at Lichtenburg on 3 March 1901, Gazetteer refers:

'A town in the South African Republic (Lichtenburg district; North West), 63 km south-east of Mafikeng. The town and district furnished a commando for the Boer forces (Cmdt H. C. W. Vermaas; Cmdt J. G. Celliers). Now an important supply depot, the garrison, supplemented by the 1st The Northumberland Fusiliers and details from the 3rd The South Staffordshire regiment, was attacked on 3 March 1901 by a force commanded by Asst Cmdt-Gen J. H. de la Rey, with Veg-Gen J. G. Celliers and Cmdt H. C. W. Vermaas, but determined resistance forced the Boers to retire after twenty-four hours. The British lost 18 killed and 24 wounded whilst the Boers lost 14 burghers killed and among the 38 wounded was Celliers. As they had impeded the town's defence, all the trees in the town were cut down.'

As he rode away, De la Rey was heard to remark:

'The enemy has received a good hiding and so did I.'

Small was discharged 'medically unfit' on 14 December 1902 but re-enlisted in the Territorial Force (No. 8959), serving in France with the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers from 26 December 1914. He was killed on 29 March 1915 and is commemorated upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial; further entitled to 1914-15 Star Trio.

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Sold for
£600

Starting price
£210