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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 345

A Boer War D.C.M. group of three to Private A. Curdie, Royal Scots Fusiliers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (1373 Pte. A. Curdie. R. Scots Fus:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (1373 Pte. A. Curdie, 2: R. Scots Fus:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1373 Pte. J. Curdie. Rl: Scots Fus:), good very fine (3)

D.C.M. London Gazette 31 October 1902.

Abraham Curdie was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire in 1866 and attested for the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Ayr on 28 December 1885. Joining the Regiment in India in December 1888, he served there until January 1894 before transferring to the Army Reserve. Curdie was employed with Stewart and Menzies, Clyde Tube Works after leaving the service. Returning to the Colours after the outbreak of the Boer War on 6 December 1899, Curdie joined the Regiment in South Africa on 21 December 1899 until 5 September 1902.

After having been called up, Curdie's co-workers sent him a parcel of clothes and other necessities as well as a poem, repeated in the Coatbridge Express on 7 February 1900:

'Frae the Monklands tae the Transvaal, is a distant cry auld freen,
Yet our thoughts are with you, Aby, aye; each soldier of the Queen,
Each lion-hearted Briton, who for freedom fact eh foe,
May they be like Bruce and Wallce, lay the base oppressors low.

The cause if just in which you fight, 'tis liberty you claim,
'Tis not for selfish motives, it's old Kruger that's to blame,
Then let the crafty tyrant Boers bear Briton's battle cry,
Her gallant sons will fear no foe, they'll conquer or they'll die.

We are watching with patriot pride, at times with aching heart,

Of our brave and noble soldiers, who have acted well their part,
We mourn for those who fought and bled, whose life-blood stains the veldt,
Brave Wauchope and his highlanders, each gallant Northern Celt,
Your fighting 'gainst a motley squad,
Strike for what's right, auld freen,
No craven-hearted coward's blow,
From a soldier of the Queen.'

Discharged on 13 September 1902 Curdie again re-attested for service after the outbreak of the Great War on 12 December 1914. Posted to the Royal Scots Fusiliers he joined 2nd Battalion and entered the war in France on 19 January 1915, serving there until 2 March 1919. Curdie transferred to the Class Reserve on 1 April 1919 for the final time; sold together with copied research.

Further entitled to a 1914-15 Star trio.

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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1200