South Africa, 1834-53 (T. Tapley. 1st Btn Rifle Bde.), court-mounted on board for display, lightly toned, good very fine, and scarce with original documentation Private Thomas Tapley, of St. Margaret’s Parish, Leicester, enlisted for service with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade at Leicester on 14 December 1939 at the age of 18. He served for 5 and a half years in Malta & the Ionian Islands, and a further 3 years and 7 months with his regiment in the Cape of Good Hope and during the Second Kaffir War in South Africa between 1846-7 (roll confirms). He completed a total of 11 years and 21 days with the Rifle Brigade before his discharge at Dover on 5th January 1851.This lot offered with a rare original ‘Parchment Certificate’, and a most unusual handwritten letter concerning his medal application: ‘Lt Col. (Leicester?) Curzon begs to inform Mr Tapley, that, having made personal application at the medal office, it appears that his… medal might not be ready for issuing for two or three months. Lt. Col. Curzon sympathizes very much with Mr Tapley in his disappointment, and thinks it an exceeding hard case that a man should wait to the end of 1856 to receive his medal for good and gallant service per-formed in 1846.’ Also offered with copied research and roll entries.

Estimate: GBP 400 - 500