An Attractive QUEENS SUDAN, KHEDIVES SUDAN (Khartoum) & QSA / KSA BOER WAR (Defence of Ladysmith) group of four. To: 3207. Cpl / Sgt A. HERBERT. 2nd RIFLE BRIGADE.

QUEEN's SUDAN MEDAL:
3207. CPl A. HERBERT. 2/R BDe:

QUEEN's SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL:
3207. Sgt. A. HERBERT. RIFLE BRIGADE.
BELFAST, LAING'S NEK, DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH.

KING's SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL:
(*Original missing, Substitute medal included) SOUTH AFRICA 1901 & 1902.

KHEDIVE's SUDAN MEDAL:
KHARTOUM

"Unnamed as issued"

Herbert's papers fully confirm the Khartoum clasp but the medal roll does not. However, we've had several similar 2nd Rifles groups and all have had the clasp, as does a similar group currently owned by one of our clients.

[BIOGRAPHY]
Alfred Herbert was born in London about 1875 the son of Henry & Elizabeth Herbert of 21 Lindley Street, Mile End, London. (The address still exists).Prior to his enlistment he worked as a labourer. Having previously served with the Middlesex Regt, at age 18 & 5 months he enlisted into the 2nd Rifle Brigade on 30th March 1894 for a 12 year engagement. During his army career he served in the Sudan Campaign including the Battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898. He also served in Singapore, Malta and Egypt and took part in the occupation of the Island of Crete in 1898. The Second Boer War was his last engagement where he took part in the Defence of Ladysmith: He was discharged on 30th March 1906 after exactly 12 years with the colours at age 30.

[THE 2nd BATALLION RIFLE BRIGADE]
The 2nd Battalion sailed from Crete on the Jelunga on 2nd October 1899, and reached Durban on the 26th. At 3:00am on the 30th the battalion got into Ladysmith by rail, and after a hasty meal set out to join the 1st Devon, 1st Manchester, and 2nd Gordons under Ian Hamilton at Limit Hill, north of the town, where Sir George's centre was that day. The brigade did not have much to do beyond sending help to Colonel Grimwood's brigade on the right or east. During the forenoon the battalion and the 2nd Gordons deployed and lined the crest of Limit Hill, from which they covered the retreat of Grimwood's brigade, they themselves eventually retiring about 3 pm.



[HARD WORK DURING THE SEIGE OF LADYSMITH]
From the commencement of the siege of Ladysmith the battalion held King's Post and Leicester Post on the north of the town, and, unlike some other battalions, they strained every nerve for weeks to make these posts absolutely unassailable. The rocky nature of the ground, the want of suitable tools, and the fact that many of the diggers had to be on duty in the trenches all night, made the task superlatively difficult Observation Post, about a mile in advance of King's Post, was till 9th November held by a weak detachment of the 5th Lancers, who were attacked on that day, and the Rifle Brigade had to reinforce them. The attack was repulsed. The battalion's losses were 1 officer and 1 man mortally wounded and 4 men wounded. They had now to garrison this post and to set about making it impregnable. One very remarkable piece of work done by the battalion was the keeping down by the Lee-Metford fire of 'sharpshooters, many of whom were officers', of the Boer artillery-fire at ranges between 2000 and 2800 yards.

The 2nd.Battalion, Rifle Brigade was chosen by General Buller to lead a head-on assault against the strong position held by the Boers at Bergendal on 26-27 August 1900.

Bergendal was taken by the Rifles at the point of the bayonet for which the bar,'Belfast' was granted. It was during this action that Private Edward Durrant of 'C' Company, 2nd.Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross for carrying the wounded Corporal Weller to safety, a distance of 200 yards under a very heavy fire: The Rifles lost three Officers and twenty-one Riflemen killed or died of wounds and seven Officers and sixty-three riflemen wounded: The Battalion remained in South Africa until September 1902, when it left for service in Egypt.



A wonderful LADYSMITH DEFENDER group, despite the missing KSA (which we have replaced with another identical medal).
All medals are mint on their original ribbons.

The group comes complete with Sgt Herbert's attestation papers.

£1250