A scarce Boer War and Somaliland Battle of Jidballi pair awarded to Private R. Binnie, 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps who saw service in South Africa during the Boer War taking part in the operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. He would subsequently serve in Somaliland in the expeditions against the Mad Mullah including taking part in the Battle of Jiballi on 10th January 1904. 1 of just 107 men of the 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps to receive the clasp Jidballi. He would go on to serve on the Western Front from 13th September 1914 and would later be confirmed as having died of wounds on 28th October 1914. Having no known grave he is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Pair: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (1872 PTE. R. BINNIE. K.R.R.C.) Africa General Service Medal 1899-1956, EVII bust, 2 Clasps: Somaliland 1902-04, Jidballi; (1872 PTE. R. BINNIE. 4TH K.R.R.). Court-mounted for display.
Condition: edge bruise to the QSA partially covering the surname, and contact wear to the AGS at 9 o’clock which doesn’t affect the naming. Otherwise mounted for display and better than Very Fine
Ronald Binnie was born in Wood Green, Middlesex and was a resident of Forest Gate, Essex when he enlisted at Barnet subsequently serving as a Private (No. 1872) with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He would initially serve at home before travelling to South Africa where he would take part in the Boer War being present on operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal.
He would subsequently travel to Somaliland on 14th January 1903 when he would be engaged during one of the three expeditions against Muhammed bin Abdullah, the Mad Mullah, and during this campaign he also saw action in the engagement at Jidballi on 10th January 1904. He would be 1 of 105 men of the 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps to receive the clasp for Jidballi and 1 of 147 men to receive the clasp for Somaliland 1902-1904.
He would return home again by 19th July 1904 and would remain there until after the outbreak of the Great War. He would see service on the Western Front from 13th September 1914 and would be declared missing and later confirmed as having died of wounds on 28th October 1914 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps during the First Battle of Ypres. Having no known grave he is now remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
