A South Africa & First War Group to H.M.S. Partridge
A South Africa & First War Group to H.M.S. Partridge - Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902 (W. FAIRWEATHER, A.B., H.M.S. PARTRIDGE); British War Medal (769935 W.O. CL. 2. W. FAIRWEATHER. C.E.); and Victory Medal (769935 W.O. CL. 2 W. FAIRWEATHER. C.E.). Naming is officially impressed. Mounted to a cardboard framed suspension, original ribbons, dark patinas on the silver medals, light contact, better than very fine. Footnote: William Fairweather was born on March 18, 1874 in London, England. He signed on for twelve years' service with the Royal Navy. During the Boer War, he served as an Able Seaman with H.M.S. Partridge, a 1st Class screw Gun Boat, between October 1899 and June 1902. He is shown on the rolls as receiving the Queen's South Africa Medal without clasp. Between the Boer War and the First World War, he moved to Canada. Fairweather signed his Attestation Paper with the 124th Infantry Battalion "Governor General's Body Guard", on January 3, 1916 in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 41, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Emily Eliza Fairweather of Toronto, stating that he had twelve years' previous service with the Royal Navy, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Shipper. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed August 9, 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.C.V. Chadwick with a strength of 32 officers and 1,004 other ranks. In England, the Battalion was re-designated the 124th Pioneer Battalion, with Fairweather being transferred to the Canadian Engineers in the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd Class. Fairweather survived the war and for his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

