Queens South Africa Medal. Silver issue with 5 x clasps 'Cape Colony' 'Paardeberg' 'Johannesburg', 'Diamond Hill' & 'Wittebergen' (5993 Pte. F. Catton, K.O. Sco: Bord:)

Wounded-in-Action at Victoria Cross Action: Private Catton is confirmed being 'Wounded-in-Action' in the rear-guard action at Lambrechtfontein on 18 May 1901, at which place Lieutenant & Adjutant G. H. B. Coulson, D.S.O., also of the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, attached 7th Mounted Infantry, won the Victoria Cross (posthumously)

Regimentally Important: A regimentally important South African War casualty to a soldier confirmed as being 'Wounded-in-Action', at the same action where his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant G.H.B. Coulson, V.C., D.S.O., became the first member of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers to be awarded a Victoria Cross.

Medal and Clasps Verification: The recipients entitlement to the QSA medal and all 5 x clasps is confirmed per the respective campaign medal roll of the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers per below cited source:

- QSA & 5 x battle/state clasps: WO 100/182. Remark '7th M.I.'. Roll compiled 'In-the-Field' at Rooidrai, South Africa on, 02/02/1902
- Dated clasp 'South Africa 1901': WO 100/182. A supplementary page in same roll shows entitlement to dated clasp. Signed 03/02/1904

Whether the recipient wa sever subsequently sent, received & wore a dated clasp is not known. Note Frank had left the British Army in 1901, more than 2 years before the supplementary medal roll was compiled

The recipients service papers are extant and accessible at The National Archives

Frank Catton, was a native of Fakenham, Norfolk, England, where he was born in, 1878. Frank described as a 'Barman' was 18 years & 8 months of age, when enlisted in the British Army at London on, 5 March 1897. At his attestation Frank had requested a preference to join the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and his wish was granted as he was posted to the King's Own Scottish Borderers on the very same day he enlisted. After completing his long steam-train journey north to the Regimental Depot of the King's Own Scottish Borderers located at Berwick, he joined his regiment on 6 March 1897. Frank completed his basic training, and was posted to 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers on, 1 July 1897. Frank embarked for active service in South Africa, when on, 5 January 1900, he embarked aboard the S.S. Braemar Castle with 1st Battalion K.O.S.B., arriving at Cape Town, South Africa on, 26 January 1900. He continued to serve in South Africa with 1/K.O.S.B. through to 16 July 1901 - including subsidiary service with the regimental draft that joined the 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment. Amongst the 'All Ranks' of 1/K.O.S.B. that joined 7th Mounted Infantry, included Lieutenant Coulson and Private Frank Catton

Private Catton was 'Wounded-in Action' in the rear-guard action at Lambrechtfontein, fought on 18 May 1901, at which place his commanding officer, Lieutenant & Adjutant G. H. B. Coulson, D.S.O., also of the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, attached 7th Mounted Infantry, won the Victoria Cross (posthumously)

The citation for Lieutenant G.H.B. Coulson's award of a 'Pothumous' Victoria Cross, was published in the London Gazette issue of , 8 August 1902, and is here quoted below to provide context to this famous incident at Lambrechtfontein, where Private Catton served with the 7th Mounted Infantry:

Quote,

This Officer during a rear-guard action, near Lambrecht Fontein, on the 18th of May, 1901, seeing Corporal Cranmer, 7th Mounted Infantry, dismounted, his horse having been shot, remained behind and took him up on his own horse. He rode a short distance, when the horse was shot, and both Lieutenant Coulson and the Corporal were brought to the ground. Lieutenant Coulson told Corporal Cranmer to get along with the wounded horse as best he could, and he would look after himself. Corporal Cranmer got on the horse and rode away to the column. No. 4792 Corporal Shaw (Lincolns), 7th Mounted Infantry, seeing Lieutenant Coulson's position of danger, rode back through the rear-guard, and took him up on his horse. A few minutes later Corporal Shaw was shot through the body, and there is reason to believe that Lieutenant Coulson was wounded also, as he fell off his horse. Corporal Shaw fell off a few minutes later. This Officer on many occasions throughout the Campaign displayed great coolness and gallantry under fire

Unquote.

In addition to Coulson and Private Horton & Lance-Corporal J. Riddle, K.O.S.B. together with Private G. H. Woolam, D.L.I., were also killed in the same action at Lambrechtfontein. In recent years fragments from the memorial stone that marked their original burial site was discovered and, as a result of further research and funding, a new memorial was erected to their collective memory in 2003

A most desirable regimental casualty medal to the King's Own Scottish Borderers

Condition: About GVF

Code: 24525