Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 81

(x) The South Africa Medal awarded to Lieutenant W. G. Forsythe, 7th Contingent, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, late Napier Guard, who was killed in action at Langverwacht, near Klip River in February 1902

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. W. G. Forsythe, 7/N. Z'land. M.R.), dated clasps affixed with wire, minor official correction to surname, good very fine, together with a bronze N.Z. fob (Lot)

Just five New Zealand Officers killed in action during the Boer War 1899-1902, from a total of 230 who gave their lives.

William George Forsythe was born in July 1875, the son of Colour-Sergeant Forsythe, 18th Regiment of Foot and New Zealand Forces, and served with No. 22 Company, 7th Contingent, New Zealand Mounted Rifles during the Boer War. Having served in the Napier Guard and being a printer with the Napier Daily Telegraph, he proceeded with the 7th Contingent, having enlisted in April 1901. Forsythe was killed in action on 24 February 1902 at Langverwacht, near Klip River and buried close by. By 2000, the monument to Forsythe and his twenty-two comrades who gave their lives that day was in a state of disrepair and had been damaged by a fallen tree. It was more recently restored through the efforts of the New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Mike Walsh, and a rededication ceremony was held in 2009; sold together with copied research including photograph and Service Record.

For the medals of his father see Lot 300.

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

Estimate
£2,000 to £3,000

Starting price
£1800