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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 413

Pair: Private J. Collins, Northumberland Fusiliers, who saw service in the Sudan was on Crete during the International Intervention and finally saw Boer War Service

Queen's South Africa 1899-19023 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4805 Pte J. H. Collins, North'd: Fus:); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4805 Pte. J. Collins. North'd Fus:), minor contact wear overall, very fine (2)

John Henry Collins was born at St. Mary's, Northumberland in 1876. Posted to Gibraltar with the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers he served here for several years before moving onto see service in the Sudan (Medal). Sent to Crete in final weeks of the Intervention crisis on 3 October 1898 Collins was further posted to South Africa on 4 November 1899 with the 2nd Battalion.

Soon after their arrival the battalion was sent into action at the Battle of Stormberg, the first defeat of black week, which saw them thrown back from a well-fortified Boer position after a frontal assault. Their losses were so high here, mainly prisoners taken in the confusion, and it was some time before they were able to return to the fighting. They did see heavy fighting on one more occasion at Nooitgedacht Pass when a column including 2nd Battalion was attacked and a number of men were taken prisoner, the rest managed to inflict high losses of their attackers and withdrew intact.

Returning home on 3 April 1903 he was transferred to the Reserve on 9 April and was discharged on 9 February 1912; sold together with copied service papers and Sudan medal roll.

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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£200