Lot 102
Wounded – Karee Siding 29th of March 1900 ‡
Clandestine Operations - Inc The D.J. Croll Medal Collection & Other Properties | M26002
Auction: 16 September 2026 at 10.30 BST
Description
The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private Samuel Clowes, 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment who was Wounded, by a Gun Shot Wound to his left knee at Karee Siding on the 29th of March 1900 and who Served in France with the Royal Engineers During the Great War comprising, Queen’s South Africa Medal, 1899-1902, 2nd type, Ghost Dates, two Clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, (5780 Pte S. Clowes, Cheshire Regt), impressed naming very fine (1)
From the Register of the Anglo Boer War 1899-1902
Karee Siding a station on the Bloemfontein-Kroonstad railway line in the Orange Free State (Brandfort district; Free State), 20 km south of Brandfort. Variants: Karree.
The Boers were well entrenched on either side of the railway line at Karee Siding under the command of Asst Cmdt-Gen T. Smuts. They comprised the Utrecht and Wakkerstroom commandos, Theron's Scouts and a detachment of Johannesburg Police.
On 23 March 1900 four British officer's accompanied by one trooper were foraging north from Glen camp. Reaching Karee Siding they saw four Boers on a kopje. The Boers rode off to the east; the officers split up to approach the kopje from two directions. On reaching the kopje the Boers, from the Johannesburg Police, ambushed the officers killing one and wounding the remainder. The Police dressed the wounds and sent word to the British camp at Glen. On 29 March 1900, the right flank was turned by Maj-Gen J.D.P. French's cavalry division, and the left was reported to be retiring before the mounted infantry of Lt-Col P.W.J. Le Gallais. The centre was then attacked by Lt-Gen C. Tucker's 7th division and a sharp fight ensued before the Boers retreated towards Brandfort. The 7th division bivouacked at Karee Siding and its headquarters remained there during April. On 3 May 1900 Field Marshal Lord Roberts left Bloemfontein to take command of the army at Karree Siding.
Samuel Clowes a 18-year-old Native of Nantwich Cheshire joined the Cheshire Regiment on the 12th of August 1898 he was posted from the Depot to the 2nd Battalion on the 24th of September 1898 and served at Home until the 8th of January 1900 when he proceeded to South Africa. He was wounded on the 29th of March 1900 by a Gun Shot Wound to his Left Knee which Dislocated the Articular Cartilage. He was returned Home, Wounded, on the 27th of April 1900 and after Convalescence was Discharged on the 2nd of March 1901Medically Unfit.
He Joined the Royal Engineers on the 16th of July 1915 and landed in France on the 17th of June 1917, serving in France until admitted to Hospital on the 13th of November 1918, he was finally Discharged to the “Z” Reserve on the 19th of March 1919.
Sold with Copy Service Papers QSA Medal Roll Confirming Clasps and Copy WW1 Medal Index Card showing that he is also entitled to a British War and Victory Medal.
