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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 140

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (12373 Pte C. Cardell. Rand Rif.), very fine

Christopher Cardell was born at St. Erith, Cornwall on 25 October 1874. Travelling to South Africa for work Cardwell appears to have been involved in mining prior to the outbreak of the war. An article in The Cornish Telegraph refers to his experiences after the war stating:

'Mrs Cardell, Trewarveneth, has just become possessed of some very interesting relics of the South African war. There are several cartridges of the Mauser, Dum Dum, and Lee Metford pattern, also poisoned bullets of which much complaint has been made. There is an English shell and one used by the Boers, both exploded, of course. The latter was picked up at Elandslaagte where it has entered a mine in which Mr. Christopher Cardwell is engaged.'

Leaving South Africa Cardwell travelled to the United States of America where he was tragically killed in an accident. While working as 4th Engineer aboard a Merchantman he is noted as having died of 'suffocation from fumes of oil store'. Although the Cornubian and Redruth Times suggests it was an accident involving a railway train.

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Estimate
£100 to £150

Starting price
£100