Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, 2 bars, Natal, Transvaal, King’s South Africa Medal, 2 bars, WW1 British War Medal, Civil Surgeon later Captain Harry Butson Maunsell, an Irish Doctor.
QSA and KSA both officially named as Civilian Surgeon.
BWM officially impressed: “Capt H. B. Maunsell”
Medals toned and with silk ribbons, never been worn.
Harry Butson Maunsell, was born into an old established Irish family during 1865. Son of Major G.W. Maunsell, J.P. 4th Connaught Rangers.
By the time of the Boer War he had already been in South Africa for nearly 10 years and had been a Medical Doctor for over 15 years, with experience as a Captain and having been Commanding Officer of the Eastern Mounted Rifles, and being present during the Annexation of Pondoland during 1894 with the Cape Mounted Rifles.
He was a volunteer Civilian Surgeon during the Boer War, earning his 2 medals, he returned for WW1, serving in the South West Africa Rebellion of 1914 with the South African Army, followed by service with the Royal Army Medical Corps.
He died at the age of 76 on 4th February 1942 in Pinetown, kwaZulu-Natal, a few months later his son E.C. Maunsell M.C., would be killed in action at El Alamein.
Noted in the London Evening Standard, 22nd November 1900 as a recovering Convalescent Officer, discharged from hospital to duty for the week ending Nov 18 1900.
History of the family of Maunsell, Volume 2, Part 2:
“SOUTH AFRICA
The Maunsells are represented in South Africa by Dr Harry Butson Maunsell, 6th son of George William White Maunsell, High Sheriff of Galway, and Grandson of the Rev Edward Eye Maunsell, of Fort Eyre, County Galway.
Dr Maunsell married Miriam Jane, 2nd Daughter of Alec D. Gilson, Resident Magistrate of Port Shepstone, Natal, former Captain in the 76th Regiment R.M.
Dr Maunsell is the Medical Officer of sub-district of Nigel, Transvaal, and Resident Justice of the Peace.
Dr Maunsell has seen a good deal of Military Service in South Africa.
He was formerly Captain and Commanding Officer of the Volunteers of the Heidelberg District, Eastern Mounted Rifles; served at the annexation of Pondoland in 1894, with the Cape Mounted Rifles; throughout the Boer War, 1899-1902
