W Woolmore Collection - Australian Groups

Lot 3565    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 21ST NOV)    W Woolmore Collection - Australian Groups

Estimate $8,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $10,000

GROUP OF FOUR: Egypt Medal 1882-89, (undated reverse), - clasp - Suakin 1885; British South Africa Company's Medal 1890-97, (Matabeleland 1893 reverse), clasp - Rhodesia 1896; Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 3 reverse), - two clasps - Defence of Mafeking, South Africa 1901; Khedive's Star 1884-6. 440, L/Corp: A.H.Pitcher, N.S.W. Arty: on first medal, 1904 Troopr A.H.Pitcher, B.B.Police on second medal, 31 Serjt. A.H.Pitcher. Protect: Regt F.F. on third medal, last medal unnamed as issued. First two medals engraved and third medal impressed. Mounted in hinged-lid display case with medalets as described below, contact marks, otherwise good very fine.

Together with medalets as follows; Departure of N.S.W. Troops to Soudan Mar-3-85 in silver (23mm) (C.1885/3) (GVF); Lord Mayor's Soudan Medal 1885 in silver (28mm) (C.1885/10), unnamed (Fine); Departure of N.S.W. Troops to Soudan March 1885 in silver (24mm) (C.1885/12) (VG); Baden Powell, Mafeking, South Africa 1900 in bronze (29mm), unlisted (GEF).

Alfred Holman Pitcher (AKA Pilcher), policeman, age 25, served with Colonial Military Forces at Bathurst, NSW; Enl.19Feb1885 at Paddington Barracks in Sydney, NSW and allotted to A Coy; Emb.03Mar1885 on SS Iberia; RTA 23Jun1885 on SS Arab; served in Matabele Wars in Rhodesia as a trooper with Bechuanaland Border Police and B.S.A.P.; served in Anglo-Boer War with Protectorate Regiment Frontier Force and WIA 01Jan1900 at Siege of Mafeking.

In August 1885 at the fortnightly meeting of the New South Wales Patriotic Fund in the Sydney Town Hall one of the committee's recommendations was that Private A.H.Pitcher, single, formerly in the police, but now refused because of defective eyesight, was voted ten pounds. The medical reports showed that the defective vision was not of recent origin, or brought about by service in the Soudan and the committee thought that the applicant should seek other employment. In September Pitcher again applied to the committee for funds and the matter was referred to the Inspector-General of police for a report. Then in October 1885 the committee considered his case after the police authorities furnished another medical report stating that he could not be re-admitted to the force. It was decided that he be granted twenty five pounds to enable him to start in some small business.

In the following years Pitcher made his way to South Africa and joined the Bechuanaland Border Police. He served with that unit during the Matabele War of 1893 and was with Forbes' column from which Alan Wilson's ill-fated 'Shanghai Patrol' was sent forward. He later joined the British South Africa Police and served with them during the Matabele Rebellion of 1896.

Prior to the outbreak of the Boer War he joined the Protectorate Regiment that was raised by Colonel Baden-Powell and commanded by Lt-Col H.O.Hore. The regiment was besieged in Mafeking for the first seven months of the war and Pitcher was wounded there on 1 January 1900. One of his more pleasant duties during the siege was to teach the beautiful Lady Sarah Wilson (Churchill) how to shoot a rifle. He was also one of the first three into the fort to rescue his CO, Col Hore and others, who were being held captive by the Boer, Sarel Eloff, shortly before the relief.

After Mafeking was relieved on 17 May 1900, Sgt Pitcher was working in the Discharge Section at Cape Town. Then at the end of the war he was working in the office of the newly appointed Civilian Administrator for Swaziland, Enracht Mooney.

With research including typed copies of his diaries kept for the Sudan 1885 and Matabeleland 1893.