An Exceptional and superbly documented SEVEN CLASP Queen's South Africa Medal.
To:
2228 Corporal S. RAWLINGS.
WELSH REGIMENT.
Queen Victoria 1900 Chocolate Box
(With Complete Original Contents) &
Genuine Mafeking Siege 10/- Note of March 1900.


SOUTH AFRICA 1901
BELFAST
DIAMOND HILL
JOHANNESBURGH
DRIEFONTEIN
PAARDEBERG
RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY

[BIOGRAPHY]
Sydney Rawlings was born in 1871 at Larkhall, Bath, Somerset. Prior to joining the army at age 18 on March 21st 1888 he was a Porter and had previously served in 3rd Battalion Gloucester Regt. He was a small stature being only 5ft 4" tall.

Sydney served in India for three years (no medal) and for just over a year in South Africa during the Boer War. He was discharged on 20th March 1901 after an engagement of 13 years.

Some three years prior to his departure to South Africa he had married Clara Evelyn Brown on 16th February 1896. He clearly suffered much ill health based on his service in South Africa.
He had found work at COOK'S CLOTH FACTORY AT TWERTON near Bath but even that work had proven to much of a challenge for him. He died on Monday 25th September 1922 and his obituary notice which appears in the Bath Chronicle of Saturday 30th September 1922 records that he was, "the only surviving soldier in Bath with SEVEN clasps to his QSA" This is both interesting and important as it fully confirms his full clasp compliment as the main surviving medal roll for the Welsh Regt confirms all of his six main clasps, but the Welsh Regt 1901/02 clasp roll has not survived.His seven clasp entitlement is however beyond dispute.

[ALSO INCLUDED ]
AN ASTONISHINGLY RARE & COMPLETE QUEEN VICTORIA 1900 "NEW YEAR" CHOCOLATE GIFT BOX.(By Rowntree)

"With Full Original Contents & Packing"

This is only the third complete box we've seen in almost 40 years of full time collecting and dealing. The lead foil paper is 80% complete and even most of the original wood shaving packing are still extant. (Value £450)

[ALSO INCLUDED ]
A copy of a contemporary Victorian newspaper article where a journalist attempted to buy a much treasured Victoria Choc' box from a member of the Essex regiment ( for £2 which was a LOT of brass in 1900 ) ....the soldier declined the offer stating that it was for his wife in England and that he would be in big trouble when he got home if he was to sell it !!

[ALSO INCLUDED]
A VERY RARE "SIEGE OF MAFEKING" TEN SHILLING (10/-) NOTE of MARCH 1900. (Serial No.6639). These rare emergency siege notes were printed in the field on light tissue paper and were commissioned and signed by Lord Baden Powell who later founded the Boy Scout movement. (Value £375)

[DEATH NOTICE & OBITUARY]
Joseph's death notice & obituary appeared in the local Bath paper on Saturday 30th September 1922. He and his wife who died in 1942 are both buried in Twerton Cemetery, Bath. Group comes with full colour copy service and discharge papers. Also a photograph of Joseph in military mess kit (as Sgt).

This is an exceptionally complete Boer War assembly of a quality seldom encountered today.












A STRICTLY ONE ONLY ASSEMBLY, FIT FOR INCLUSION IN A MUSEUM OR SERIOUS COLLECTION OF BOER WAR ITEMS

£1475