A group of Second Boer War medals awarded to Sergeant A E Wood of the City Imperial Volunteers is among the highlights in Wellington Auctions' August postal sale.
Wood's group includes his Distinguished Conduct Medal; a Queen's South Africa Medal (1899-1902 with bars from the Cape Colony, Transvaal and Witterbergen regions); a South Africa Medal (1901) with two bars; and a British War Medal, Captain DCM.
Wood's name is inscribed on the Queen's South Africa Medal (pictured top right).
 Sergeant A E Wood's medals from the Second Boer War |
According to the lot notes, only 14 DCMs were awarded to the City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War - just two of which were awarded to the CIV's Honourable Artillery Company (HAC).
The lot notes also mention that the other DCM medal awarded to the HAC is in a museum collection (according to "a well known CIV collector").
Among the listed men in the unit was one "WOOD A.E., H.A.C... SERGT", who received a decorations for his bravery at Lindley on June 23, 1900.
"LINDLEY....the 4 gun battery of the C.I.V....they did not get through without fighting...Early on 26th June the enemy were found in some force in a line of kopjes just beyond Liebenberg's Spruit" - from After Pretoria by HW Wilson
According to a written account of the action, the City Imperial Volunteers battery at once pushed forward, shelled the kopjes & dislodged the Boers.
Skirmishing began early on June 27 and continued all day. In retaliation, the Boers brought up a 15-pound gun, using it to engage the CIV.
Nevertheless, the Battery "gave them a hotter reply than they [the Boers] had anticipated, they moved their gun and turned their attention to the convoy.
"Their riflemen closed in, but the CIV Battery succeeded in checkmating their efforts."
 Wood's Distinguished Conduct Medal is on the right |
Following their victory, the City Imperial Volunteers were warmly congratulated by General Paget upon the excellence of their work.
Described by Wellington Auctions as being "Nearly very fine... [with] slight contact marks," this is one of only three DCMs from the campaign outside of museum possession and one of only two awarded to members of the CIV's Honourable Artillery Company.
Sergeant A E Wood's medals group, including his two-of-a-kind DCM, is for sale online in Wellington's auction with an estimate of £3,250-3,750.
Online bidding closes at midnight on September 1.
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