Description
Boer War pair Shoeing Smith 13th Hussars, later , Army Veterinary Corps.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, 4864 S. Sth. G. Springham. 13/ Hussars.; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, 4864 Shg:-Sth: G. Springham. 13th Hussars.; British War and Victory , 15330 A. Sgt. G. Springham. A.V.C., first two mounted possibly as worn, last two loose, note old unofficial pinning to clasps on QSA, second and third clasps linked by wire to LH side.
George Springham is listed on the roll of the 13th Hussars for the Second Boer War with the note that he had transferred from the South African Constabulary. He served in the 13th with the rank of Shoeing Smith a role necessary for a cavalry regiment to keep moving and vitally important in the mobile guerrilla war that the conflict dissolved into.
During the Great War Springham returned to action as a member of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. At some stage being transferred to 343 Company, Army Labour Corps he was later discharged, living then in Clapton. His MIC card makes reference to an application for his M.S.Medal on the 15th March 1920 although no record of entitlement has been found.
Medal rolls confirm his QSA with 3 clasps (CC, OFS and Transvaal) KSA, and entitlement to a pair only for WW1 service. We have not traced entitlement to the other three clasps on his QSA, but as he also served in the SAC it is possible he earned the clasps serving with them, although we have not been able to trace this.
Condition – GVF, minor contact marks and slight edge bruise to first.
