Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 1035
British South Africa Company´s Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, one clasp, Rhodesia 1896 (1535 Troopr. W.V. Banks-Wright B.B. Police), unit officially corrected, toned, extremely fine Estimate £ 360-400 Sub-Lieutenant William Vere Banks-Wright, born Cheltenham; served as a Trooper in the Bechuanaland Border Police, 1893 and as Sub-Lieutenant "K´ Troop Bulawayo Field Force, 1896; he was present in the action at Singnesi died of Malaria, 15.1.1897, ´the deceased [Banks-Wright] left Bulawayo about September last in company with Captain Reid, and Messrs. McCrery and Jones for the Zambesi, which they reached all right, and then proceeded on their return journey to Bulawayo. All went well until they reached the banks of the Shangani, at which place Messrs. McCrery and Jones were attacked by fever, and with great difficulty managed to reach Inyati. Runners were then sent in to Bulawayo with the news.´ (Letter from the Civil Commissioner of Bulawayo, dated 5.4.1897 refers, a copy of which is included with the lot); upon receipt of the news a party was dispatched to retrieve the group, and Banks-Wright was admitted into hospital on the 15th January; however it was too late to save him and he died shortly after admittance.
Sold for
£720