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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 427

(x) A Boer War pair to Private A. H. Court, Coldstream Guards, who appeared in the London Evening Standard charged with theft of a looking glass from a hansom cab with a fellow guardsman

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (7809 Pte H. A. Court, Colsdstm: Gds:); King's South Africa, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7809 Pte A. H. Court. Coldstream Guards.), lightly toned, good very fine (2)

Alfred Harry Court was born at Hutton, Warwickshire, and enlisted on 4 September 1889, he served in South Africa from 21 October 1899 and was 'Confined to Barracks' at Pretoria on 17 September 1900 showing his temper when withdrawing rations. Returning Home on 24 June 1902 and he was discharged on 12 August 1902. With the outbreak of the Great War he re-attested into the Coldstream Guards on 2 September 1914 at Birmingham but remained at Home for the duration of his wartime service being finally discharged on 5 November 1918 as no longer fit for service. He is further entitled to a Silver War Badge (B121890).

London Evening Standard 27 June 1892

'Alfred Harry Court, 24, and Thomas Davis, 22, privates in the 2d Battalion of Coldstream Guards, stationed at Wellington Barracks, were charged with stealing two looking-glasses in frames, value 30s., from the interior of a hansom cab. - Joseph Churchill, a cab proprietor and driver, said that the Prisoner hailed him on Saturday night at Knightsbridge to drive to Wellington Barracks. On the way there Witness looked through the trap and saw Prisoners had wrenched off the looking-glasses in ivory frames from the sides of the vehicle. He pulled up, and on getting down he saw that each of the Prisoners had a glass in his hand. They threatened to give him a good hiding if he interfered, and then got out of cab and ran off. - Court was taken into custody at the time, but Davis was apprehended at the barracks on Sunday. - Prisoners, who received a fair character, were remanded.'

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

Sold for
£290

Starting price
£130