Lot 5177

Description

Pair: Distinguished Conduct Medal (EVIIR); Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 2 reverse with clear ghost dates), - three clasps - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal. Pte H.W.Brown. S.Aust:Cont: on first medal, 76. Pvte. H.W.Brown, S.A.MR. on second medal. First medal impressed, second medal engraved. Court mounted, extremely fine.

Ex Spink Auctions July 1992 (lot 3294).

Together with a book, South Africa, Second South Australian Contingent (South Australian Mounted Rifles) by H.W.Brown, a privately assembled hard bound book made up of newspaper cuttings, a special edition of the Prince Alfred Chronicle for Departure of Old Boys in the S.A. Mounted Contingent, photos and other items relevant to the Boer War compiled by Brown's mother; Discharge Certificate from South Australian Contingent; various items relating to Brown's grandfather, The Hon Thomas English, MLC, includes menu for a Civic Banquet in honor of the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, Town Hall, Adelaide, November 9, 1867; invitations for events involving the Duke of Edinburgh and other items.

DCM: LG 27/9/1901, p6329 - Awarded for swimming the Orange River at Prieska, while in flood, and recovering a troop transport punt in the face of enemy fire.

Medal presented by His Excellency the Governor General at Adelaide Railway Station on 25Mar1903.

MID: LG 16/4/1901, p2608, by Lord Roberts for meritorious services performed.

Herbert 'Bertie' Woolmer Brown, stock and share broker, born 15Apr1874 at Adelaide, Sth Aust; he was the grandson of the late Thomas English, MLC, builder of the Adelaide Town Hall and the Post Office; educated at Prince Alfred College; Enl.29Dec1899 at Adelaide, Sth Aust; Disch.30November 1900; Commissioned 2nd Lieut D Coy 10 Aust Infy Regt (Adelaide Rifles) 22Mar1909; Lieut in Aust Int Corps 15Jan1912; Capt in AIC 16Feb1913; Staff Officer in AIC 4th MD 01Nov1912-30Sep1914; Capt 89th Infy 01Oct1914; Bde Major 20th Infy Bde 30Mar-30Dec1917; Capt 2Bn 32 Infy Regt 01Oct1918; Bde Major 20th Bde Area 01Jan1918 to 07Jul1919; also during WWI Brown was attached to the Censorship Office in Adelaide and was Honorary Aide-de-Campe to Sir Henry Galway, Governor of South Australia; to Unattached List 01Jan1921; Reserve of Officers 08Mar1923; Died 19Aug1930 in Ru Rua Private Hospital at age 56; buried at North Road Cemetery, Sth Aust; Herbert Brown was secretary of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade at head station in Adelaide from 1903. There were several Newspaper reports of his death with one featuring a fire brigade truck and uniformed firemen in the funeral procession. Also, flags were flown at half mast at all fire stations in the metropolitan area.

With research.