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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 33

Family group:

The campaign group of five awarded to Colour-Sergeant G. H. Thomas, King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was wounded in action with the Ladysmith relief column in 1900

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Lushai 1889-92 (5282 Cpl. G. H. Thomas. 4th Bn Kings Ryl Rifles.); India General Service 1895-1908, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (5282 Sgt. G. H. Thomas 1st Bn K.R. Rifles. Corps.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (5282 Sgt. G. Thomas, K.R.R.C.); King's South Africa 1900-1902, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5282 Clr:-Serjt: G. Thomas. K.R.R.C.); Army LS. & G.C., E.VII.R. (5282 C.Sjt: G. H. Thomas. K.R.R.C.), contact marks, overall very fine (5)

The campaign group of three awarded to Private G. E. Thomas, Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action on his second day in the trenches

1914-15 Star (S-12005 Pte. G. E. Thomas. Rif:Brig:); British War and Victory Medals (S-12005 Pte. G. E. Thomas. Rif.Brig.), good very fine (3)

George Henry Thomas was born at Lydney, Gloucestershire in 1867 and served with the Yorkshire Dragoons and Royal Artillery prior to enlisting with the King's Royal Rifles Corps on 1 July 1889. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion while serving at home and was advanced Corporal in 1890. The next year he was posted to Burma on 18 September 1891 with the 4th Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmer.

Transferring to the 1st Battalion in India in 1892, Thomas served on the expedition to relieve Chitral. During this expedition they served with distinction in the Battle of the Malakand and the action at Khar. Thomas must have proved himself reliable during these early actions as he was advanced Sergeant in October 1895.

After their service in India came to an end they were posted to South Africa in 1896, four companies remained there while the other four were ordered to Mauritius. Thomas was fortunate to be stationed with one of the former companies as the latter four were aboard the troopship Warren Hastings when she sank in 1897.

Returning to Britain on 8 February 1899 with the 3rd Battalion Thomas was soon back in South Africa on 4 November 1899. They were present for the earliest actions on the Tugela Heights before the final forcing of the river in February 1900. It was during this push that Thomas was wounded on 22 February, his service papers note it was at Colenso which was to the extreme south of the British line. When the Regiment arrived at Ladysmith it is notably that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions met in Ladysmith as they were all either with the relief column or the garrison.

Continuing to serve, Thomas was advanced Colour Sergeant on 14 May 1902 and returned to Britain on 22 March 1903. There he remained, transferring to the 5th City of London Regiment on 1 December 1908 until he was discharged in 1910; sold together with copied research.

George Ernest Thomas was born at Jelunda, Punjab on 23 October 1896 and enlisted with the 7th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry on 6 September 1914. Transferring to the Rifle Brigade on 3 June 1915 he entered the war in France on 29 June 1915 with 9th Battalion. Thomas entered the Front Line trenches on 9 July but was killed in action the very next day, on 10 July 1915. He is commemorated upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and these awards would have been sent to his gallant father; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£800 to £1,200

Starting price
£600