Baldwin & Sons
Auction 101 28 September 2016
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ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MILITARY MEDALS, Single British Campaign Medals, A Rifle Brigade Relief of Lady Smith Fatal "bayonet-charge" Casualty with original contemporary paperwork, comprising Queen's South Africa Medal, second type, ghost dates, with two clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (9558 Pte C. Moon. Rifle Brigade). Ladysmith clasp slightly bent, otherwise extremely fine as issued, mounted on a modern pin for display purposes.
Charles Smallcomb Moon was born c.1869 and enlisted in the Rifle Brigade at Horfield on 8 March 1888, giving his age as 18 years, 1 month. He lived with his father and mother and five siblings at 16 Beam Street, Barton Hill, Bristol. Private Moon served at Winchester, Woolwich, and Dover between 1888-1890. He was at Barreilly throughout 1891 and Ganesh Ghat in 1892. During 1895 he served in Hong Kong. Private Moon, 2nd Battalion the Rifle Brigade, was posted from Crete to Durban, South Africa in October 1899. The Battalion moved on to Ladysmith to cover the retirement of Sir George's White's force into the town. On 10 December the Rifle Brigade was involved in a sharp bayonet action in hilly country losing 1 officer and 10 men killed and 3 officers and 40 other ranks wounded.
From the Bristol Evening News, Wednesday 13 December 1899
"Transvaal War – Brilliant Sortie- Bayonet Charge – Enemy's Heavy Losses"
"... The War Office at 11.40 o'clock last night, issued the following telegram from General Buller:-
"Free Camp 2.5pm, Tuesday. The following telegram received from Sir George White today"
"11th December, - Last night Lieut. Col Metcalf, 2nd Rifle Brigade, with 500 men of his Battalion, made a sortie to capture Surprise Hill, and destroy the 4.7 Howitzer mounted there."
"They reached the crest of the hill undiscovered and drove of the enemy, the gun was destroyed by gun-cotton successfully by Lt. Digby Jones R.E. when retiring they found their retirement barred by the Boers but forced their way through using the bayonet freely – the Boer losses were considerable."
Sold with the original and emotive Army Form 46, dated 24 October 1901, stating:-
Madam,
With Reference to your application regarding the late Pte. C.S. Moon of the Rifle Brigade I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to enclose herewith the Small book of the late soldier.
The original Soldiers Small Book belonging to Private Moon, a vaccination certificate dated December 1868 two newspaper cutting relating to the action he was killed in and a complete copy of the Bristol Evening News, of Wednesday 13 December 1899. A copy of The Battles of the Thukela Heights by Ken Gillings and a photocopy of the Rifle Brigade History for the Boer War.
Estimate: £500-700
Charles Smallcomb Moon was born c.1869 and enlisted in the Rifle Brigade at Horfield on 8 March 1888, giving his age as 18 years, 1 month. He lived with his father and mother and five siblings at 16 Beam Street, Barton Hill, Bristol. Private Moon served at Winchester, Woolwich, and Dover between 1888-1890. He was at Barreilly throughout 1891 and Ganesh Ghat in 1892. During 1895 he served in Hong Kong. Private Moon, 2nd Battalion the Rifle Brigade, was posted from Crete to Durban, South Africa in October 1899. The Battalion moved on to Ladysmith to cover the retirement of Sir George's White's force into the town. On 10 December the Rifle Brigade was involved in a sharp bayonet action in hilly country losing 1 officer and 10 men killed and 3 officers and 40 other ranks wounded.
From the Bristol Evening News, Wednesday 13 December 1899
"Transvaal War – Brilliant Sortie- Bayonet Charge – Enemy's Heavy Losses"
"... The War Office at 11.40 o'clock last night, issued the following telegram from General Buller:-
"Free Camp 2.5pm, Tuesday. The following telegram received from Sir George White today"
"11th December, - Last night Lieut. Col Metcalf, 2nd Rifle Brigade, with 500 men of his Battalion, made a sortie to capture Surprise Hill, and destroy the 4.7 Howitzer mounted there."
"They reached the crest of the hill undiscovered and drove of the enemy, the gun was destroyed by gun-cotton successfully by Lt. Digby Jones R.E. when retiring they found their retirement barred by the Boers but forced their way through using the bayonet freely – the Boer losses were considerable."
Sold with the original and emotive Army Form 46, dated 24 October 1901, stating:-
Madam,
With Reference to your application regarding the late Pte. C.S. Moon of the Rifle Brigade I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to enclose herewith the Small book of the late soldier.
The original Soldiers Small Book belonging to Private Moon, a vaccination certificate dated December 1868 two newspaper cutting relating to the action he was killed in and a complete copy of the Bristol Evening News, of Wednesday 13 December 1899. A copy of The Battles of the Thukela Heights by Ken Gillings and a photocopy of the Rifle Brigade History for the Boer War.
Estimate: £500-700