PRIVATE W. FOULKES, 60TH (NORTH IRISH HORSE, BELFAST) COMPANY, 17TH BATTALION IMPERIAL YEO

PRIVATE W. FOULKES, 60TH (NORTH IRISH HORSE, BELFAST) COMPANY, 17TH BATTALION IMPERIAL YEOMANRY, TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR AT PLESSIS DAM 26TH JUNE 1901. Queen’s South Africa Medal, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (officially impressed: 32529 Pte. W. FOULKES. 60th. Coy. IMP: YEO:). Attractively toned, extremely fine.

Medal accompanied by 6 pages of copied service papers, copied medal rolls, census returns and biographical details.

William Foulkes was born in April 1859 in Llangynhafal, Denbighshire. He enlisted into the 60th Company Imperial Yeomanry at Dublin on 2/3/1901. At the time of enlistment he was 34 years of age and gave his trade as that of butcher. Foulkes never rose above the rank of private and was finally discharged on 5/8/1902. William Foulkes was taken prisoner of war on 26th June 1901 near Plessis Dam and subsequently released.

Foulkes was taken prisoner during one of a series of drives by battalion strength columns under the overall command of Major-General Bruce (later General, Sir) in the Orange River Colony in June 1901. During the action at Plessis Dam the 17th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry lost one officer slightly wounded, one man mortally wounded, 4 men severely wounded and 26 men taken prisoner of war.