[THE MEDALS]
Boer War, QSA & 1914-15 Trio.
QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL
6795. Pte A. DE BANK. 2: R: BERKS. REGt. (Four Clasps)
-South Africa 1901-
-Transvaal-
-Orange Free State-
-Cape Colony-

Great War 1914-1915 Trio
SE.11434, Pte,A, DEBANK. A.V.C. (Army Vets’ Corps)
Wounded WW1
(*All medals officially impressed)











With father’s Large “Hearts of Oak Society” Large Silver Medal. Reverse Privately Engraved.
“Mr Isaac De Bank”.

[FAMILY HISTORY]
It’s thought that Alfred De Bank was born in c,1880 in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, where his father was the long time landlord of
THE VOLUNTEER INN” at 3 Gloucester Street. If you click and enlarge the picture on the left you can read Isaac DeBank’s name on the swinging pub sign !…and it might even be him standing in the doorway looking out into the street ! The picture dates from 1890-1900 so young Alfred De Bank would indeed be living here at this very time until just before he joined the army in 1900.

Alfred originally joined the army at about age 20 as 6795, Private A, De Bank. Men joining the Royal Berkshire Regiment’s First V.S.C. were allocated numbers 6791 to 6953, so, interestingly, as 6795, Alfred was only the fourth man to be numbered in this early numerical block and therefore almost certainly had an official attestation date of 1st February 1900 as numbers 6791 to 6926 were issued between 1st February and 20th April 1900.

Alfred’s Great War service for which he received his 1914-15 trio was as a member of the Army Veterinarian Corps with emphasis on caring for the horses. He entered France on 28th August 1915 and was wounded during his service with an honourable discharge on 15th April 1919.

His father, Isaac De Bank was a well known “Old Publican" who traded at “The Volunteer Inn" 2, Gloucester Street, Faringdon. It was here that received the “Hearts of Oak Society” Large Silver Medal for apparently raising funds for the society at the pub.

This large & excellent silver medal is included in this sale. In January 1907, The Faringdon advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette, Berkshire, carried an obituary notice for Isaac.

A really unusual family assembly from two wars and containing an uncommon Hearts of Oak Society large silver medal.







All medals are “mint state” condition on their original ribbons. The QSA is a “gem” and in particularly crisp condition displaying clear shadow dates on the reverse. Alfred De Bank obviously never wore his medals.

£695