Beschreibung:

The important ‘Magersfontein’ Victoria Cross group of nine awarded to Sergeant J. D. F. Shaul, Highland Light Infantry, one of three such awards for this desperate action in which the Highland Brigade suffered immense casualties (a) Victoria Cross, the reverse of the suspension bar engraved ‘Corporal J. Shaul, Highland Lt. Infty.’, the reverse centre engraved ‘11th Decr. 1899’ (b) Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen, Transvaal (..3 Cpl. J. F. D. Shaul, High. Lt. Infy.) impressed naming, regimental number weak through contact wear (c) King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3113 Serjt. J. D. Shaul, V.C. Highland L.I.) impressed naming but ‘V.C.’ correctly engraved in gothic letters as usual (d) 1914-15 Star (7407 Sgt. Major J. F. D. Shaul, V.C., 5th S.A.I.) contemporary engraved naming (see footnote) (e) British War and bi-lingual Victory Medals (S/S.M. J. F. D. Shaul, 5th S.A.I.) impressed naming (f) Coronation 1937, privately named (J. F. D. Shaul, V.C.) (g) Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3113 Bnd. Sjt. J. F. D. Shaul, V.C. Highland L.I.) impressed naming (h) Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (3113 Sjt. J. F. D. Shaul, (V.C.) H.L.I.) the earlier medals with contact wear, good fine or better, otherwise generally very fine or better, the group mounted as worn and sold together with the campaign medals awarded to his father and to one of his sons, these comprising: (i) Crimea 1854-55, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (1595 John Shaul, 2 Battn. 1st Royals) regimentally impressed naming (j) China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Corpl. John Shaul, 2nd Bn. 1st The Rl. Regt.) officially impressed naming (k) Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue (1595 Corp. J. Shaul, 2 Battn. 1st Royals) regimentally impressed naming, these three with edge bruising and contact wear, therefore good fine (l) Africa Service Medal and War Medal 1939-45 (32473 F. D. Shaul) these both officially impressed, unless otherwise described, very fine (14) £100000-120000 Footnote Victoria Cross London Gazette 28 September 1900: ‘On 11th December 1899, during the Battle of Magersfontein, Corporal Shaul was observed, not only by the officers of his own battalion, but by several officers of other regiments, to perform several specific acts of bravery. Corporal Shaul was in charge of stretcher-bearers; but at one period of the battle he was seen encouraging his men to advance across the open. He was most conspicuous during the day in dressing men’s wounds, and in one case he came, under a heavy fire, to a man who was lying wounded in the back, and, with the utmost coolness and deliberation, sat down beside the wounded man and proceeded to dress the wound. Having done this, he got up and went quietly to another part of the field. This act of gallantry was performed under a continuous and heavy fire, as cooly and quietly as if there had been no enemy near.’ In addition to Shaul, the Victoria Cross was awarded to Captain E. B. B. Towse, of the Gordon Highlanders, and to Lieutenant H. E. M. Douglas, R.A.M.C., medical officer of the Black Watch. The medals of these two officers are held by their respective regimental museums. Corporal Shaul was presented with his Victoria Cross at Pietermaritzburg on 11 August 1901 by H.R.H. the Duke of Cornwall, the future King George V. At about three in the afternoon of Sunday, December 10th, the force which was intended to clear a path for the army through the lines of Magersfontein moved out upon what proved to be its desperate enterprise. The 3rd or Highland Brigade included the Black Watch, the Seaforth Highlanders, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and the Highland Light Infantry. The Gordons had only arrived in camp that day, and did not advance until next morning. Besides the infantry, the 9th Lancers, the mounted infantry, and all the artillery moved to the front. It was raining hard, and the men with one blanket between two soldiers bivouacked upon th