Army Long Service and Good Conduct, G.V.R. (274 C.Sjt: J. Wroe. K.R.R.C.), almost extremely fine Colour-Sergeant James Wroe was born in 1878 in Monton, near Manchester, and joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in May 1897. Serving in South Africa during the Boer War (entitled Q.S.A. with clasps Transvaal, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek), he was promoted to Sergeant in 1910 and was transferred to serve with the South Nigerian Regiment in March 1914, in WWI he saw action with the 3rd Nigeria Regiment in West Africa and East Africa, being promoted to Colour Sergeant on 21 April 1915. He was listed as missing believed killed on 24 January 1917at Ngwembe, before being confirmed as wounded (gunshot wound left arm) and taken prisoner of war a few days later on the 29th. This action is recorded in some detail in ‘With the Nigerians In East Africa’ by Downes, which confirms that Wroe was wounded and taken prisoner as part of a defensive flank under Major Gard’ner, the second in command. Wroe was later released from captivity on 15 May 1917 and sent to the ‘Dunluce Castle’ for treatment en route to Wynber Hospital, Simonstown in August that year.

Estimate: GBP 80 - 120