Superb 4 Bar QSA Medal to Walker Border Regiment.

A Queens South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1902 clasps correctly named to 4840 Corporal S. M. Walker of the 1st battalion the Border Regiment.
The 1st borders had a hard war and saw extensive service; the battalion were serving in Malta when war was announced, they were returned to London and thence by steamer to Durban landing in the December 1899. Along with the 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Connaught Rangers and the 1st Dublin Fusiliers made up the 5th brigade lead by Major General Hart. At once the Borders were put in a support position in an attack at Bridle Drift where the battalion lost six men and one officer killed, the battalion was specially mentioned in General Butlers dispatches.
On 20th January 1900 the battalion was heavily engaged at Venters Spruit, this little known battle went on until the 26th, here 133 men and 4 officers were wounded with 7 men and 1 officer killed.
Around the middle of April 1900 the battalion was moved to Cape Colony on the outskirts of Kimberley here they were involved in heavy fighting on the 22nd and 23rd losing 7 wounded. From here they were moved by train to the Transvaal western border, the Border’s and Connaught Rangers went to Irene both battalions engaged the enemy and pushed them back beyond Bronkhorst Spruit. The battalions were tired but still they were marched back to Pretoria to help clear the country north of the region; so with the KOSB’s, 2nd Berkshire’s, 1st Argyle’s the 1st Borders were put in this new column under Ian Hamilton. They saw some very stiff fighting in the hilly areas. They covered an area of 25 miles north of Pretoria and then swinging to the right forming the left side of the army’s eastern advance. It is noted that the battalion preformed splendidly being mentioned in lord Roberts dispatches of the 10th October. The Border regiment suffered losses of 6 killed and 15 wounded. The battalion continued to operate in the south west Transvaal until April 1901 when they were detailed to guard the Klerksdrop-Krugersdorp Railway. In January 1902 after a visit from lord Kitchener, the battalion built a line of blockhouses from Venterdrop to Lichtenburg. The battalion garrisoned this line until the end of the war. No Boers crossed it although some thirty attempts were made. In Lord Roberts Final dispatch, 11 officers and 16 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in his dispatches. The 1st Border Regiment played a major role in the defences of the Transvaal region in the latter part of the war and stopped the Boers braking through the line.
After his return to England Corporal Walker was discharged into the Army reserve. It looks like he never wore his medal, as it comes in wonderful original condition with all four clasps attached correctly and on its original ribbon. Tt looks like it has never been polished and all detail is beautiful and crisp. This medal comes with a copy of Walker’s medal roll confirming all four clasps.

Code: 27185