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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 61

(x) Six: Battery Sergeant-Major W Bell, Royal Artillery, one of the few men of 10th Mountain Battery who evaded capture at Nicholson’s Nek and got back into Ladysmith on 30 October 1899, suffering a wound to the fingers of his right hand

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (33729 Driv: W. Bell. 2/1. So: Ir: Div: R.A.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (33729 Sgt. W. Bell, 10th M.B., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (33729 Serjt. W. Bell, R.G.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (33729 Sjt. W. Bell. R.H.A.) official correction to unit; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 3rd issue (Sjt. W. Bell. R.A.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed, mounted court-style, the Egypt pair with contact pitting, therefore good fine, otherwise very fine and better (6)

William Bell was born at Brighton, Sussex in 1853 and attested on 17 July 1882. Joining the 2/1st South Irish Division he saw service with them in Egypt and was posted to 10th Mountain Battery on 1 July 1889. Joining this unit in South Africa before the Anglo-Boer War he was advanced Sergeant there on 18 January 1896.

He was still present in Natal on the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. As the war got underway the British withdrew their forces back towards Ladysmith with the Boer's in hot pursuit. General White decided to try and halt the Boer advance before they reached the town with a daring night march which would take them to positions above the Boer's allowing them a dawn assault. The British had three main targets, Farquhar's Farm, Pepworth Hill and- the farthest position- Nicholson's Nek.

The 10th Mountain Battery was part of Colonel Carleton's column aimed at Nicholson's Nek, supported by an enormous mule train carrying their weapons and ammunition. At some stage during the march a loud noise startled the mules and they stampeded, carrying all the equipment and some of the gunners off.

Carleton continued his march and made the Nek however in the dark his men set up in the wrong place. When dawn came they found themselves on a plateau overlooked by a number of Boer positions and worse yet, without much of their artillery. Swiftly surrounded by the Boer commandos large numbers of the British were taken prisoner. Around 80 men managed to escape, including Bell, but 29 officers, 898 men and 4 Mountain Guns were taken.

Bell's service papers note a wound to the fingers of his right hand however no date is given to confirm that it occurred during his escape from the trap of Nicholson's Nek. He served throughout the Defence of Ladysmith and for the rest of the war, being posted to 107th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery in 1903. Discharged later that same year he returned to service at Southampton on 2 September 1914.

Serving with a reserve Brigade of the Royal Garrison Artillery he was discharged in July 1918 having earned no medals for his efforts; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320