South African War 1899-1902 Commemorative Memorial Medal. Large size (4377 Pte Charles Fox 2nd Rly Highrs)

Killed-in-Action: Private Charles Fox 2nd Battalion Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) is confirmed 'Killed-in-Action' at the Battle of Magersfontein, South Africa, on, 11 December 1899

In Memoriam: The life and supreme sacrifice made by Charles Fox is commemorated in perpetuity, on a memorial tablet commemorating the local soldiers who had fallen in the South African War, and is located at Hereford Cathedral, Hereford, England

Sold together contained in ts original round domed red plush leatherette hinged case of issue - and rare found cased

Designer: Emil Fuchs

Maker: Heaton Mint

Metal: Bronze

Dimension: 70mm

Obverse: A helmeted female figure sheathing her sword. Below columns of Army personnel, cavalry & infantry marching with Royal Navy in the bay. With legend 'PAX (peace)'. With designer signature 'E. Fuchs'

Reverse: A winged angel kneeling over a fallen soldier. Beyond are soldiers and tents in a battlefield scene.With legend “To the / memory of those / who gave their lives for / Queen and country'. Below, a plaque flanked by a palm fond (left) and a laurel branch (right) tied together with a ribbon at the foot, inscribed: South African / Campaign / 1899 1900'. At the base of the plaque, signed 'Emil ( left) Fuchs (right)'. At base of the medal is the single letter 'H', being the mint mark of the Heaton Mint.

QSA Medal verification: The recipient was entitled to a Queens South Africa Medal with clasp 'Cape Colony', per the respective campaign medal roll of 2nd Battalion Black Watch (ref WO 100/190) that was compiled and signed in-the-field at Ladybrand, South Africa, on, 9 September 1901. The medal roll under the remarks column has the entry 'Killed-in-Action' Deceased' opposite the soldiers name & medal clasp entitlement

The recipient was a native of Leominster, England, who had enlisted in the Black Watch in 1892. Charles was on the Army Reserve when the South African War broke-out, and on being re-called to 'The Colours' was posted to the 2nd Battalion Black Watch

The Leominster News and North West Herefordshire & Radnorshire Advertiser newspaper issue of, 22 December 1899, contained the below following details:

Quote,

The news, on Sunday morning, that Private Charles Fox was among the rank and file of the Black Watch killed at Magersfontein was heard with great regret, and much sympathy is felt for the family. The deceased, whose send-off, was reported a few weeks ago, and who was a native of Leominster, joined the Black Watch at Perth November 1890, and had seen service in Ireland, at Gibraltar, in Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and India, returning home in December of last year.

Unquote.

Magersfonein: After having disembarked at Cape Town, Cape Colony on 13 November 1899, 2/Black Watch were brigaded with the 1st Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, and 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, to form the 3rd or 'Highland Brigade' under command of Major General Wauchope - a Black Watch officer

For 2/Black Watch their baptism of fire during the South African War took place less than a month after they had landed in the Cape. On 11 December 1899, 2/Black Watch, led the advance of the Highland Brigade at Magersfontein - with Major General Wauchope being shot dead in the opening volleys of well aimed mauser rifle shot that pured into the advancing Highlanders - the highlanders attack being stalled and ultimately repelled by the Boers

The British loses at Magersfontein are estimated to have been 22 x officers and 188 x other ranks killed; 46 x officers and 629 x other ranks wounded, and 1 x officer and 62 x other ranks missing. Of this, the Highland Brigade suffered losses of 747 x all-ranks killed, wounded, and missing. Among the individual battalions, 2/Black Watch suffered the most severely, with losses, killed, wounded & missing, being an estimated 303 x all-ranks

A most substantial - massive - memorial medal, and a choice example to a casualty of the Battle of Magersfontein.

Condition: About EF

Code: 22645