A South Africa & First War Group to Sergeant MacDonald; 21st Infantry & 4th Hussars

Canada. Great Britain. Boer War/First World War Group of Seven, Private/Sergeant Harry Maxwell MacDonald, The Queen's Regiment/21st Infantry Battalion CEF/4th Hussars of Canada; Queen's South Africa Medal, 2 Clasps - TRANSVAAL, ORANGE FREE STATE (6292 Pte H. MACDONALD. THE QUEEN'S.); King's South Africa Medal, 2 Clasps - SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902 (6292 Pte H. MACDONALD. THE QUEEN'S.); 1914-15 Star (59617 Sjt H.M. MACDONALD. 21/CAN:INF:); British War Medal (59617 SJT. H.M. MC DONALD. 21-CAN.INF.); Victory Medal (59617 SJT. H.M. MC DONALD. 21-CAN.INF.); King George V and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 (SGt H. MAC DONALD 4th HUSSARS. CAN.); and Belgium: Civil Decoration, Silver Medal 2nd Class, Type III (silver, 34 mm x 44.5 mm, original ribbon with hanger inscribed "1914-1915", in its hardshelled case of issue). Naming is officially impressed on the Boer War Pair and the First World War Trio, the Jubilee Medal is privately engraved, the Civil Decoration is un-named. His surname is spelled incorrectly on the BWM and the VM (McDonald). Un-mounted, all but the Boer War pair with original ribbons, semi-dark patinas on the silver medals, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by his two Ribbon Bars (the first with the Queen's South Africa Medal, the King's South Africa Medal, the 1914-15 Star and the British War Medal, 11 mm x 131.5 mm; the second with the Victory Medal, the King George V and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 and the Belgium: Civil Decoration, Silver Medal 2nd Class, 11 mm x 106 mm; each bar with swing bar pinback); his Cigarette Case (silver, convex, engraved "The Great War. / To Sgt. Henry MacDonald / In Remembrance of 1916-19. / Poperinghe.-Coutrai. / from / Capt. Evan Cutsem." on the cover (his first name incorrectly engraved as "Henry" and should be "Harry), marked with the British lion, a leopard's head (made in London), date marked "c" (1918) on both inside covers, maker marked with the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Limited London insignia and marked "GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS COMPANY 112 REGENT STREET. W." with restraining elastic on the inside back cover, 73 mm x 85 mm x 12 mm, missing its latch and therefore, the case does not close); a 21st Infantry Battalion Jacket Patch (yellow felt numbers "2" and "1" forming the number "21" sewn upon a green felt maple leaf shaped base, the outline of the leaf, the King's crown and the "CANADA" ribbon banner in yellow threading, 164 mm x 172 mm); King George V and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 Award Document From Buckingham Palace (inscribed "By Command of HIS MAJESTY THE KING the accompanying Medal is forwarded to SERGEANT HARRY MAXWELL MACDONALD to be worn in commemoration of Their Majesties' Silver Jubilee 6th May, 1935.", printed in red and black ink on thick off-white paper stock, 196 mm x 247 mm, slightly soiled); and Belgium: Civil Decoration, Silver Medal 2nd Class Award Document (inscribed in French and Dutch, loosely translated "Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, / Albert, King of Belgium / To all present and to come, Hello. / Given the Royal Approval July 21, 1867, creating this civic decoration to reward the brilliant acts of courage, dedication or humanity; / Our approval of May 18, 1915, relative to the granting of civic decorations from 1914 to 1915; On the proposal of Our Interior Minister and our Foreign Minister, We Order and Hereby Order / Article 1 The Civic Medal 2nd class from 1914 to 1915 was granted to Sergeant H.M. Mac Donald of the 21st Canadian British Army / Article 2. Our Minister of the Interior is responsible for the implementation of this award / Given in our general quarter May 10, 1918. / By the King: Albert. / The Minister of the Interior, Paul Perryer / The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paul Hymans", two Ministry of the Interior embossed stamps, signed, printed in black ink on an off-white paper stock, 222 mm x 337 mm, the document exhibiting wear, the four panels having been taped together).

Footnote: Harry Maxwell MacDonald was born in September 1881 in Surrey, England. He served for two and half years with The Queen's Regiment during the Boer War. For his South African service, he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with two clasps: Transvaal and Orange Free State, and the King's South Africa Medal with two clasps: South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. He later served in India with the same regiment, then immigrated to Canada. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (59617) with the 21st Infantry Battalion, on November 7, 1914 in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 33, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mrs. H. MacDonald of Ottawa, Ontario, stating that he was with an Active Militia, the 43rd Regiment, The Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles, that he had twelve years' previous service with The Queen's Regiment in Surrey, two and half years of which were in South Africa and five years in India, along with having served three years in the Colours, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Bartender. The Battalion was raised in Eastern Ontario and mobilized in Kingston, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 36, March 15, 1915 and sailed May 4, 1915 with a strength of 42 officers and 1,057 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. St. P. Hughes. The Battalion served in France and Belgium with the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, MacDonald later being promoted to Sergeant. In the War Diary of the 21st Infantry Battalion, dated July 1 to 13, 1918, it mentions the award of the Civil Decoration, Silver Medal 2nd Class to MacDonald, for putting out a fire and saving the stores at the British Expeditionary Force Canteen at Poperinghe, Belgium: "July 8th, 1918 Daily Orders of this date announced the award of the Medaille Civique de 2nd Classe to 59617 Sergt HM MacDonald. This NCO who enlisted with the Battalion in 1914, was awarded this decoration in respect of the following services, “A fire having broken out at POPERINGHE, on the 24th January 1917, he distinguished himself by his coolness and courage. Thanks to his efforts it was possible to avoid £8,000 of stores, belonging to the BEF Canteen being burnt.” Major WH Kidd MC, and Captain FD Raymond MC, were present at a “Tank Demonstration” at MONTENESCOURT, on this date." MacDonald survived the war and for his First World War service, was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He later served with the 4th Hussars of Canada and it was this regiment, that he was awarded the King George V and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee Medal 1935.