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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 419

The campaign group of three to Private J. Mason, Queen's Regiment, who was wounded at Colenso

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (3223 Pte. J. Mason 1st Bn Ryl. W. Surr: Regt); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (322[...] Pte. J. Mason Rl: Wt: Surrey Regt), the number partially obscured; King's South Africa 1901-1902, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3223 Pte J. Mason. The Queen's.), some edge bruising, some heavy to the second, light contact marks very fine (3)

Joseph Mason was born at Holme, Peterborough, Northamptonshire in January 1866 and attested with the Royal West Surrey Regiment on 2 October 1890. Posted to Malta on 24 December 1891 and from there to India on 5 October 1892. Returning to Malta on 14 October 1894 and from thence back to the East Indies on 17 October 1895. Mason returned to England on 30 October 1898 before transferring to the 2nd Battalion on 7 October 1899 and being posted with them to South Africa on 20 October 1899.

They formed part of Hildyard's Brigade at the Battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899. As such they left the British camp later than the rest of the force and were deployed to try and rescue Long's guns alongside the 2nd Devons. They made good progress, taking Colenso and advancing onto the Bridge over the Tugela however were called back by General Buller who was overwhelmed by the British losses.

Mason was one of those severely wounded at Colenso on 15 December 1899, he remained in South Africa however, not returning to England until 11 August 1902. He was discharged on 1 October 1902 and died on 6 November 1942 at The Row, Chillenden, Goodnestone.

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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£240