***SOLD***

Offered is a Boer War pair of service medals, comprising Queen's & King's South Africa Medals, as awarded to Private & Intelligence Agent Herbert Marshall, who served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons & The Field Intelligence Department during the Boer War.
1st type Queen's South Africa Medal with campaign bars CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL & BELFAST  impressed to: 152 PTE H. N. MARSHALL, R: CANDN: DGNS:
King's South Africa Medal with date bars SOUTH AFRICA 1901. SOUTH AFRICA 1902, impressed to: AGENT H. N. MARSHALL. F.I.D.
Medal rolls are included and confirm award with all bars - with the exception of the BELFAST bar, which looks to be an added tailor's bar.
Research shows that Herbert Norman Marshall let Liverpool on the 29th June 1899 for Montreal, Canada. Thereupon he is shown to have enlisted into the Royal Canadian Dragoons on the 28th December 1899, serving in South Africa with the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary from the 17th June 1900 until 16th October 1900. He is then shown to have transferred to the Filed Intelligence Department (also confirmed on the nominal roll), having qualified with both 1901 & 1902 date bars with that this unit. Most likely he was picked for his espionage skills for this role as he is not listed as a guide, which was the other more common role for members of this unorthodox group. Post war he is shown to have applied for a Volunteers Bounty with the Canadian Government as a result of his South African Service, dating from February 1909. The medal rolls further show he claimed his medals were lost, with new ones being issued to him in 1917.  I believe this pair are his original pair, as awarded, for two reasons, firstly the QSA is the 1st issue type, with an added tailor bar and secondly a second set, with a British War Medal, purportedly to be to the same man were sold in Canada recently, where he would have returned after his service in order to claim his bounty.
A good solid Boer War pair, with Canadian and Intelligence links, which will spark some interest to the medal collector. Free postage worldwide.

1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (Royal Canadian Dragoons)
On 7th November 1899 Canada offered a second contingent, but the War Office did not accept this offer until after the defeats of Magersfontein and Colenso. Preparations, however, had been going on, and when the acceptance arrived, the Canadian Government announced that its second contribution would be two battalions of Mounted Rifles, 2 squadrons each, and three batteries field artillery, 6 guns each. The 1st Battalion MR was mainly officered from the permanent cavalry, and the second from the North-West Mounted Police. Of the artillery the officers, to the extent of a half, came from the permanent artillery. These troops sailed in three different vessels, and arrived at South Africa in February and March 1900.
Early in March the 2nd MR and 'D' and 'E' Batteries became a portion of the Carnarvon Field Force under Sir C Parsons which undertook an expedition into the Carnarvon-Douglas district, where rebels were giving much trouble. This service did not involve severe fighting, but the force covered 700 miles under conditions more severe than any subsequently met with. The rebellion was for the time put down and the force came into De Aar in April, and the same month the two battalions of MR were ordered to Bloemfontein, where they joined the main army and formed part of Major General Button's force of Colonial Mounted Infantry, which, under the direction of General French, swung out far on the left in the advance to Pretoria. Before that advance commenced the 1st Canadian MR had been engaged on 22nd, 23rd, and 24th April 1900 at Leeuwkop, south-east of Bloemfontein, and were said to have done well. The 2nd Battalion got back to De Aar on 14th April, and reached Bloemfontein on the 29th, just in time to take part in the advance to Pretoria.
In Lord Roberts' despatch of 21st May 1900 an account is given of the operations between his leaving Bloemfontein, 3rd May, and taking Kroonstad, 12th May. At para 15, referring to the crossing of the Vet River, which was held by the enemy in force, his lordship says: "Just before dark the mounted infantry executed a turning movement, crossing the river six miles west of the railway bridge, which, like other bridges over the river along our line of advance, had been previously destroyed by the enemy. In this affair the Canadian, New South Wales, and New Zealand Mounted Infantry, and the Queensland Mounted Rifles, vied with each other in their efforts to close with the enemy. We captured one maxim gun and twenty-six prisoners, our losses being slight". In these operations two companies of the Canadian MR under Lieutenants Borden and Turner crossed the river at a part where there was no ford, and established themselves on the north bank. The New South Wales men, supported by New Zealanders and Queenslanders, seized and crossed the main drift, and drove back the Boer rear-guard by a vigorous attack. After dark Captain Macdonald and one squadron CMR rode through the Boer outpost lines and cut a telegraph wire to the north.
The crossing of the Zand was also opposed, and Hutton's 1st Mounted Infantry Brigade again had hard riding to do a wide turning movement.
In his telegram of 18th May Lord Roberts said: "Hutton's Mounted Infantry yesterday surprised and captured, about 30 miles north-west of Kroonstad, Commandant Botha and 23 Boers. No casualties on our side". There were other frequent references to the very fine work of Major - General Hutton and his Colonial Mounted Infantry.
The Vaal was crossed with little opposition, but the enemy took up a series of very strong positions to oppose the left flank of the British. French and Hutton had hard fighting 26th to 30th May, and the infantry had to be called upon to clear the kopjes at Doornkop. The Canadian MR had slight casualties on various occasions between 27th and 30th May. After Pretoria was occupied Hutton's men were chiefly posted north and east of the capital and frequently had fighting. They were heavily engaged on the British left at Diamond Hill, 11th and 12th June.
The casualty list showed that Captain A C Macdonald and 3 men of the 2nd CMR were wounded.
On 18th June Lieutenant Young of the 1st Battalion MR, with 12 Canadians and 3 Rimington's Guides, was sent out to reconnoitre. The small party took 40 prisoners, and having noticed marks of gun wheels, they boldly followed these up. The two guns were found; some oxen were captured and yoked to the guns, and although fired upon, the party were successful in returning to camp with their prisoners, the guns, and oxen. The small detachment received great credit, and Lieutenant Young and Sergeants Purdon and Ryan were specially mentioned by Lord Roberts. From 15th June to 15th July the 2nd CMR were employed, and saw some fighting, in the Orange River Colony, where, with other troops, they shared the all-important task of guarding the line, chiefly between Vereeniging and Kroonstad, at a time when the enemy was making great efforts to hamper Lord Roberts by cutting the communications. On 15th June Lieutenant L Blanchard died at Kroonstad of wounds received. On the 22nd Lieutenant W M Ingles was wounded, and 2 men killed and 3 wounded, in an attack on a post at Honingspruit. Other posts were attacked on the same day, and at Katabosch 2 men were killed and several wounded. The defenders of these posts behaved with the greatest gallantry, and their conduct was praised by Lord Roberts in a telegram to Lord Minto. On 15th July the 2nd CMR rejoined Hutton's Brigade and with him took part in the eastern advance.
On 6th and 7th July Colonel Mahon was attacked south-east of Irene, and Major General Hutton had to reinforce him. The enemy, about 3000 strong with six guns, fought with determination, but were driven off.
Between the 6th and 11th part of Hutton's line was "practically surrounded and worried by enemy for six days". In these engagements the 1st CMR had Adjutant Nelles and 6 men wounded. Within a day or two Hutton was again attacked, and again repulsed the enemy. On this occasion Lieutenant Young, who had so distinguished himself three weeks before, was wounded. On the 11th Button made a "successful advance".
In Lord Roberts' telegram of 17th July he said: "Yesterday the enemy made a determined attack on the left of Pole Carew's position and along our left flank commanded by Hutton. The posts held by the Royal Irish Fusiliers under Major Munn, New Zealand Mounted Infantry under Captain Vaughan, and Canadian MR under Colonel Alderson were most gallantly defended". Among the casualties were—"1st Canadian MR, Lieutenants B Borden and J Burch, killed". In his telegram of the 18th Lord Roberts said, "The two young Canadian officers mentioned in my telegram of yesterday were killed while gallantly leading their men in a counter-attack on the enemy's flank at a critical juncture of their assault on our position. Lieutenant Borden, only son of the Minister of Militia of Canada, had been twice before brought to my notice in despatches for gallant and intrepid conduct". The news of Lieutenant Borden's death caused a widespread feeling of sorrow in the Dominion. Both the 1st and 2nd Battalions were with Hutton in the fighting of 16th July.
On 17th July Colonel Reeves, commanding 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, wrote most highly complimenting the 1st CMR for their gallantry "in going so nobly and fearlessly to the succour of our beleaguered detachment at Witpoort yesterday".
On 24th July Lord Roberts' army took another step farther east, reaching Bronkhorst Spruit. Alderson's Brigade, including the Canadians, were far out on the right, and were in contact with the retiring enemy all day. The pursuit was continued on the 25th, the night of which was memorable for its wildness. So terrible was the driving rain and cold wind that very many transport animals died. Middelburg was occupied on the 27th. In August the advance was resumed, and the Canadian MR again had important duties. On 5th September a detachment of 105 men of the 2nd MR was guarding the line between Pan and Wonderfontein. They were attacked by the enemy with two guns and a pom-pom. Before the arrival of assistance, the party had succeeded in driving off the Boers. Major Sanders, Lieutenant Moodie, and 2 men were wounded, and 6 men taken prisoners. Lord Roberts, in his telegram of 5th September, characterised the repulse of the attack as a very creditable performance.
General Hutton's Brigade having been broken up, he issued a farewell order which was most flattering to the regulars and to all the Colonials who had served under him. Be spoke of their "steadiness under fire, gallantry in the field, and uniform good conduct in camp". General Hutton also wrote to Colonel Lessard as to the fine work of the regiment, and added: "Nothing can be more certain than the impossibility of raising militia cavalry to the standard of regular cavalry; but it has been demonstrated and clearly proved that, organised as mounted rifles, our Colonies can put into the field a force of the utmost value. I devoutly hope that this fact will be brought home, not only to every man in the Dominion Militia Cavalry, but also to the Canadian people and Canadian public opinion. ... It has been a constant pleasure to me to note how excellently your regiment has profited by its opportunities, and what real good service it has performed".
(angloboerwar.com)