An extremely fine Queen’s South Africa medal 1899-1902, 5 Clasps: Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, and Belfast awarded to Captain B. Bathurst, South African Light Horse, who died of wounds received through the explosion of an aeroplane bomb when serving as a Major in the Royal Horse Artillery in France, during The Great War, on 23 April, 1917.
Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 clasps: Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Belfast (Capt: B. Bathurst, S. A. Lt. Horse.)
Condition. Extremely Fine.
Basil Woodd Bambridge Bell-Bathurst was born in 1866 and is confirmed as having served with the South African Mounted Infantry and South African Light Horse during the Anglo-Boer War.
He went on to serve in France and Flanders with the Royal Horse Artillery during the Great War and died of wounds received through the explosion of an aeroplane bomb on 23 April, 1917. He is interred in the Grevillers British Cemetery, France. Tragically, he had been married only weeks earlier to Elizabeth Cawston in the parish of Holy Trinity, Kensington.
While a medal index card exists for the recipient, other than his name, rank and date of death, there is no reference to campaign medal entitlement or their issue which suggests that no Great War Medals were claimed and that this is his sole entitlement.
Probate was published in 1918, and stated: Bell-Bathurst, Basil Woodd Bainbridge of 4 St. James-place St. James’ Middlesex, major R.H.A. died 23 April 1917 at No.3 Casualty Clearing Station, France on active service. Probate London 29 April to Wilfred Robert Carter solicitor. Effects n£184 14S. 2d
