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Bronze QSA, Syce to Lt Col Wickham

Queen’s South Africa Medal, Bronze, no bar, Syce Ismail, Assistant Adjutant General of Transport, Army Headquarters, who served as personal Syce to Lt Col Wickham CB, Indian Staff Corps, Army Adjutant General Transport.

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SKU: J6629 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Extremely Fine

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Queen’s South Africa Medal, Bronze, no bar, Syce Ismail, Assistant Adjutant General of Transport, Army Headquarters, who served as personal Syce to Lt Col W.J.R. Wickham CB, Indian Staff Corps, Army Adjutant General Transport.

 

Very rare, one of only 4 recipients of the medal to this unit, the 2 A.A.G’s of Transport on Lord Kitchener’s Staff, Major Money RFA and Lt Col Wickham ISC both had a Syce and Bearer to accompany them.

 

Officially script engraved: “Syce Ismail A. A. G. T. A. H. Qrs”

 

The medal roll signed by which was signed by Lt Col Wickham at Pretoria, Army Headquarters on 26th August 1901 stating that the 4 men: “Accompanied the above mentioned officers from India under orders of the Secretary of State for War.”

Ismail was the Syce and Tulsi Ram, the bearer, to Lt Col Wickham.

 

William James Richard Wickham was very busy during the war, he was at the Battle of Talana as well as being Mentioned in Despatches for the siege of Ladysmith, leading to another mention in despatches during July 1902 and being decorated with the Order of the Bath.

 

Wickham saw a long and varied career, the Army List services reads:

“Served in the Soudan Campaign in 1885 as Staff Officer to the Director of Indian Transport with the Home Forces.

Served with the Hazara Expedition in 1888. Served with the Chitral Relief Force under Sir Robert Low in 1895 as Transport Officer at the Base and Inspecting Transport Officer on the Lines of Communcation.

Served in the South African War of 1899-1902 as Assistant Director Of Transport, Natal, and Afterwards as Assistant Adjuant General:

Took part in the operations in Natal in 1899, including the actions at Talana and Lombard’s Kop; the Defence of Ladysmith, including the action of 6th  January 1900; the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900; and in Orange River Colony, May to Nov 1900, including the actions at Biddulphsberg and Witterbergen.

Twice mentioned in despatches, C.B. Companion of the Order of the Bath, Brevet of Lt Colonel, medal with 5 clasps.”