THE QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL TO CAPTAIN (LATER MAJOR) W.M. CROCKETT, 2ND BATTERY, ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, INVALIDED FROM SOUTH AFRICA IN 1900. Queen's South Africa Medal, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen (officially named, naming engraved "officer" style in sloping upper and lower case letters: Capt; W.M. CROCKETT. R.F.A.). Extremely Fine.
Medal accompanied by biographical details, copied extracts Army Lists of the period, extract 1911 census and QSA Medal roll, confirming medal and clasps for service with the 2nd Battery, Royal Field Artillery, during the Boer War and that Crockett was "invalided".
Walter Macandrew Crockett was born on 18/10/1866 in West Bengal, India, the son of John and Mary Crockett. He was first commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 26/2/1887, and promoted Lieutenant, 17/2/1886, Captain, 30/9/1896 and Major, 12/10/1901, the December 1922 Army List (War Services of Officers of the Army) confirms Major Crockett saw service during the Boer War, 1899-1900, taking part in the operations in the Orange Free State, including the operation at Houtnek (Thobe Mountain), the operations in the Orange River Colony, including the actions at Biddulphsberg and Wittebergen (1st - 29th July 1900), and the operations in Cape Colony south of the Orange River, 1899-1900, including the action at Colesberg, and confirms award of QSA with 2 clasps.
Major Crockett did not see active service during WW1.
Walter Macandrew Crockett is recorded in the 1911 census as a 44 year old retired Royal Artillery major resident in Fleet, Hampshire, with his 70 year old mother Mary Crockett, a sister and three servants.
When I purchased this medal (Noonans, 13/3/4, lot 372) the medal had no clasps and the auctioneer stated that Crockett was entitled to clasps Cape Colony and Orange Free State. This is incorrect. As the medal rolls and Crokett's service record indicates, he was actually entitled to the clasps Cape Colony and Wittebergen. The medal has now been restored, with the correct, genuine Cape Colony and Wittebergen clasps added to reflect Crockett's correct medal and clasp entitlement.
The medal roll indicates that Crockett was not entitled to the Orange Free State clasp, but he is confirmed on the roll as being awarded the Wittebergen clasp. Although the roll is creased down the Wittebergen column and as a result somewhat indistinct, the word "yes" against Crockett's name in this column can be made out. The Orange Free State clasp was only awarded to entitled recipients who were not entitled to a "battle" clasp for an action or operation in the Orange Free State, the battle clasp being awarded instead of the Orange Free State clasp. The Witteberg action took place in the Orange Free State, and as a result Crockett was awarded the clasp for the action rather than the Orange Free State clasp.
