SERGEANT J.E. RAMSBOTHAM, VOLUNTEER COMPANY LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS, ATTACHED COMPOSITE CYCLI

SERGEANT J.E. RAMSBOTHAM, VOLUNTEER COMPANY LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS, ATTACHED COMPOSITE CYCLISTS CORPS. Queen’s South Africa Medal, type 3, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, SA 01, SA 02, officially impressed: 9385 SJT: J.E. RAMSBOTHAM V(OL.) COY. LANC: FUS. Attractive old dark tone, Good Very Fine to Almost Extremely Fine, and a rare award to a Lancashire Fusilier who saw service with the Composite Cyclists Corps.

There has been a somewhat half-hearted attempt to erase the title “VOL COY” from the edge of this medal, as indicated. The letters “OL” of VOL have been erased, but all the other letters in that title, though weak, are still clearly legible. Sergeant Ramsbotham presumably attempted to erase that section of the naming on his medal because he did not see service with the Volunteer Company of the Lancashire Fusiliers in South Africa, having been transferred to the Composite Cyclists Corps prior to landing in South Africa.

Medal accompanied by photocopied QSA Medal Roll extracts (3), confirming medal and clasps, and also confirming that Sergeant Ramsbotham, 1st Volunteer Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, saw service in South Africa with the Composite Cyclists Corps.

The Composite Cyclists Corps, also known as the Volunteer Cyclists Company, was a small unit comprising approximately 110 officers and men drawn from the volunteer battalions of various infantry regiments. Ramsbotham was one of eight sergeants to serve with the unit (one sergeant-major, 4 sergeants and 3 lance-sergeants).

Medal also accompanied by photocopy of letter confirming that the Composite Cyclists Corps embarked for home on the “Walmer Castle” on 25/6/1902.