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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 125

A superb campaign group of four awarded to Serjeant G. Roberts, Manchester Regiment, who was 'mentioned' in February 1901 and later killed in action in Gallipoli on 19 July 1915

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith (4701 Cpl G. Roberts, Manchester Regt); 1914-15 Star (2790 Sjt. G. Roberts. Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2790 Sjt. G. Roberts. Manch. R.), court-mounted for wear, sold together with original Great War medal slips of issue, light pitting, edge bruising, very fine (4)

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 February 1901.

Note British Battles and Medals lists a total of 369 Elandslaagte clasps to the Manchester Regiment.

George Roberts was born at Pendleton, Lancashire in 1876, the son of Edward and Ellen Roberts. He was a part of the wing of his Regiment which saw action at the bloody Battle of Elandslaagte. There they advanced on the British right flank, alongside the Gordons, and whilst initially checked by Boer rifle fire were able to resume their advance when the Boers withdrew and finally pushed it home. The Battle was to prove one of the few British victories won in the early stages of the war and certainly the most decisive.

He was later also present for the Defence of Ladysmith where the Battalion fought in Defence of Caesar's Camp and part of Wagon Hill. Robert's 'mention' was gazetted in February 1901, suggesting that it was as a result of his actions either at Elandslaagte or during the Siege.

Roberts transferred to the 4th Battalion at some stage in 1901 and appears upon the census for that year serving with them in Britain, a move which explains his lack of further clasps. Likely demobilised after the war he returned to the colours in 1914 at the age of 39 with the 11th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, formed in August of that year in Ashton Under Lyme. Entering the war at Gallipoli on 14 July 1915 he was killed just days later on 19 July and is commemorated upon the Helles Memorial; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320