AN EXCITING & HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT SEVEN CLASP QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL



To:
3178. Pte R.E. SELKIRK. 2nd DRAGOONS

This soldier was related to non other than Alexander Selkirk, The original inspiration for the book "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe.)

[THE MEDAL]
3178. Pte R.E. SELKIRK. 2nd DRAGOONS.
SOUTH AFRICA 1901
BELFAST
DIAMOND HILL
JOHANNESBURG
DRIEFONTEIN
PAARDEBERG
CAPE COLONY

[BIOGRAPHY]
Robert Edward Selkirk was born in Sheffield on 7th July 1862, the third son of Robert John Selkirk. (Army records state Doncaster.) Robert was one of ten children all of whom were born in Yorkshire. Two of the children, Harry Austin Selkirk & Frederick Charles Selkirk both died in infancy at less than one year old as was common in Victorian England.

It is interesting to note that the children's father, Robert John Selkirk, died on May 17th 1888 and that within just a month on 12th June 1888 this his third son, Robert Edward, at age 24, joined the 2nd Dragoons. Clearly, there were domestic reasons why he joined up so quickly after his father's death. Robert's younger brother who born in Doncaster on September 16th 1865 was named "Alexander" after his infamous earlier relation who formed the background character of the famous literary figure of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.

Robert served with an exemplary record until his discharge on 12th July 1907.

[COMPLETE WITH THREE SUPERB 'ORIGINAL' HAND WRITTEN VELUM DOCUMENTS & COPY ATTESTATION PAPERS & MEDAL ROLLS]






















(a) The original birth & death records of the Selkirk family 1831-1888.
(b) Army form B.128 ( Army discharge document ) of 12th July 1907,
(c) Army form B.2077 ( Army character document ) of 12th July 1907
(d) Copy of original attestation papers & service record.
(e) Recipient photograph on early miniature C.D.V.

A very interesting & historically important medal with a well documented family descendancy from the famous Alexander Selkirk who was the original inspiration of Daniel Defoe who wrote the all time classic English novel "Robinson Crusoe".

The medal is AEF & totally original. A seriously ovely item.
£1350