Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

The Boer War Distinguished Conduct Medal and Gallipoli casualty group of seven to Captain Charles Deschamps Randall, Notts & Derby Regiment: D.C.M., Edward VII (2871 C. SJT: C.D. RANDALL. I/DERBY REGT.); Queen's South Africa, 2nd reverse, 4 clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (2871 C. SJT: C.D. RANDALL. I/DERBY: REGT.); King's South Africa, two dated clasps (2871 C. SJT: C.D. RANDALL. I/NOTTS & DERBY: REGT.); Army Long Service and Good Conduct, George V (2871 S. MJR: C.D. RANDALL. NOTTS: & DERBY: REGT.); 1914-15 Star (CAPT. C.D. RANDALL. NOTTS. & DERBY. R.); British War and Victory Medals (CAPT. C.D. RANDALL.), the first four mounted for wearing, some bruising and wear, near very fine; the last three unmounted and extremely fine, QSA and KSA are official replacements.

Born India, May 1876, son of Charles Randall 45th Foot (See lot 506). Enlisted aged 14. Served in South Africa; M.I.D. 04/09/01; D.S.M. L.G. 29/09/01; roll indicates issue of replacement QSA and KSA; rejoined 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) as Private 24/08/14; promoted Sergeant-Major the following day; temporary commission as Captain 06/11/14, entered the war in Gallipoli where he was killed in action 9th August 1915, aged 39, leading C Company of his battalion in the attack on Ismail Oglu Tepe.

In a letter written shortly before his death, the recipient alludes to "the excessive heat and most abominable stench", and goes on to say that "The front line of trenches is nothing but a huge graveyard, and many hundreds of bodies lie unburied.....We were putting out wire entanglements a few nights ago, and to do so had to crawl through countless bodies, but contact with these was infinitely preferable to exposing oneself to a Turkish bullet. There is no 'off-time' on the Peninsula, and the firing goes on forever........I am in command of C Company now, Major Fielding being killed the second day whilst talking to me..... Our next period will, I think, be hell, so I must ask you to notice the casualty lists." (Quoted in the Nottingham Evening Post 02/09/15)