Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Lot 4545    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 31ST MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,500

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1899, (type 2 reverse). Civ: Vet: Surg: F. A. Nock, A.V.D. Impressed. Swing mounted, toned, a few small dark spots, otherwise extremely fine.

Together with chain mail shoulder board with 3 gilt and enamel officer's pips for rank of Captain and brass AVD title badge; Army Veterinary Department small brass buttons (VR) (2); swagger stick with hammer at the intricately engraved head (stick worn short at end); riding crop with patterned end topped with a sitting squirrel; mat framed b&w photo of a seated Captain Nock holding his swagger stick; original large b&w photos, one in coach at Sandringham, another in coach at Sandringham Estate gate, one at Doncaster races and one in a polo team; original ink written letters, one from Nock at Hotel Cecil, one to Nock in France and one to Nock in Switzerland, mat framed under cardboard; large folder with research and newspaper reports.^^The following is an abridged version of an article published in The Queenslander on Saturday 5 January 1901 on pages 21-23.^^Mr Frank A. Nock, the well-known veterinary surgeon of Wickham-terrace in Brisbane left Gladstone on 25 February 1901 in charge of 615 horses sent by ship to South Africa as remounts for the Imperial troops. The voyage lasted fifty-three days and was severely overcrowded with horses everywhere - in the lower holds, in the 'tween decks, in the well decks, along the alleyways, on the poop, and on the bridge deck. The ship reached Table Bay on 6 April and the horses were unloaded on the next day. Mr Nock reported to the authorities and was asked to place his services at the disposal of the Imperial Staff and when he accepted he joined the veterinary and remount department. His chief duty was to attend to sick horses as well as examine the remounts going to the front.^^In the veterinary hospital there was a daily average of about 800 horses and about 200 horses were treated as out-patients. Sometimes he had to examine about 800 horses in a day for remounts, as ships loaded with horses arrived from all parts of the world. The now ranked Captain Nock had the opportunity to see horses sent from England, Scotland, Hungary, Canada, Australia and the Argentine and as far as he could judge, the best of them were from Australia or 'Walers' as they were called and there was a big rush to get them. Unfortunately Captain Nock never got to the front and he contracted enteric fever which ended his service in South Africa. He was taken to Wynberg Hospital and after a long illness that nearly terminated fatally he was discharged and invalided to England on the hospital ship Nubia.^^He was amazed at the wonderful hospitality shown to him in England and was invited to be a guest of the Prince and Princess of Wales. He then went to the Babingley Convalescent House at the Sandringham Estate which was lavishly fitted out for four patients from the war and he stayed there with three other Canadian officers. The Prince and Princess were absent at the time and the officers were given the run of the whole Sandringham Estate including the use of the stables and carriages.^^After leaving Sandringham, Mr Nock was invited to be the guest of the Countess of Dudley and remained about a week in London where he stayed at the Hotel Cecil. He was then sent on visits to South Wales, Ireland and Scotland and on his return attended Doncaster races which he regarded as being inferior to both Flemington and Eagle Farm racecourses. He was then sent to the Paris Exhibition and to Switzerland, all expenses paid, which he regarded as the generous hospitality of the English to honour colonials who had placed their services at the command of the mother country.