Australian Groups

Lot 1505    SESSION 6 (9.30AM TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST)    Australian Groups

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $4,200

PAIR: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 2 reverse), - three clasps - Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein; Jubilee Medal 1897. 67. Cpl. R.E.Harkus. N.S.W. Lrs. on first medal, Tpr. Harkus. N.S.W. Lancers. on second medal. Both medals engraved. Stored in a plush lined, hinged-lid timber display box, extremely fine.

Together with NSW Lancer Regiment hat badge (1895-1903) in white metal (47mm) (Grebert p67); Yeomanry & Volunteer Tournament, prize medal in silver (38mm), by Mappin & Webb, London W, reverse inscribed, '1897/Tent pegging/1st Prize/Won By/Trooper Harkus/New South Wales/Lancers', suspension missing; Royal Military Tournament, prize medal in silver (38mm), no maker, reverse inscribed, 'Colonials Competitions/Lemon/Cutting/1st Prize won by/Trooper Harkus/N.S.W.Lancers'.

Entitlement to Coronation Medal 1897 confirmed.

Rowland Edward Harkus was born at Moruya on the NSW south coast on 12 June1869. He served in the Postal Department at Moruya and from 17May1892 at Parramatta, Sydney, NSW. He joined the Parramatta troop of Lancers in 1893 and was an outstanding horseman and also talented in wrestling, sword and lance competitions including tent pegging just to name a few.

Corporal Rowland Edward Harkus died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein. He had been an employee of the PMG Department before going to South Africa and despite his pleas for an exemption he was denied permission to go to the war. He went anyway. There were very many news reports of his death, one going into great detail of Corporal Harkus's military career and military tournament achievements and covering almost an entire page in The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta) on Saturday 12 May 1900. Another less detailed news report in The Temora Star on Saturday 12 May 1900 reads as follows.

'Death of Corporal Harkus

Corporal Harkus, who was one of the best-known men in the New South Wales Regiment, has, like many another brave fellow, ended his career in South Africa. Colonel Burns on Wednesday received a letter from Captain Cox, who is in charge of the Lancers on active service, conveying the information. The communication was dated April 10, and stated that six days previously Corporal Harkus had died in the Hospital at Bloemfontein. Several other members of the squadron were also in the hospital, but their cases were not critical, and, taken altogether, the health of the rest of the men, Captain Cox said, was very good when compared with other regiments.

Corporal Harkus was an active member of the Lancer Regiment, and was perhaps the most prominent member in military sports that the colony has produced. He took part in all the leading military tournaments in the colony, and invariably carried off a number of prizes. On two occasions he has gone to England as a representative of this colony. The first was at the jubilee, in 1897. He then took part in various military sports, and earned the distinction of gaining two Empire medals. What this means may be imagined from the fact that only seven Empire medals are granted annually, and they are open to the whole of the Imperial, Indian, and colonial military forces. Corporal Harkus brought two of the seven back to New South Wales. In 1899 he again went to England with the squadron for training. It was while returning from this trip that hostilities commenced, and part of the squadron went on active service as soon as their vessel reached the Cape. Corporal Harkus returned home to Parramatta to put his affairs in order, and then proceeded with the second contingent of Lancers to join their comrades on the battlefield. Although the letter received by Colonel Burns does not state the cause of death, it is surmised that he fell a victim to enteric fever, as recent letters from the front stated that this dreaded scourge was prevalent at Bloemfontein.'

With a large amount of research.

Ex. W (Bill) Woolmore Collection.