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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 51

(x) South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (Comdt. W. C. Bouwer. Queenstown Burghs.), some pitting to obverse and reverse, otherwise about very fine

Willem Christiaan Bouwer was born in 1855 and commanded the Queenstown Burgher Force and is confirmed on the Roll with entitlement to this Medal and Clasp. Sir Walter Stanford K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., the well-known South African politician and civil servant, mentions Bouwer in his memoirs:

'I offered my services to Commandant Frost, and he kindly placed me on his Staff. We left Queenstown on the 14th. The Queenstown burghers had already gone forward under Commandant Willem Christiaan Bouwer. He was one of the pioneers of the Queenstown district and had served the country in the War of the Axe (1846), the War of Umlanjeni (1850-52), and in the expedition against Kreli and the Tembu chiefs Fadana and Qwesha in 1857 or 1858. 1880 found this fine old burgher leader still ready to take the field.' (The Reminiscences of Sir Walter Stanford, p. 140, refers).

He died in 1943.

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

Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£520