Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902. Royal Marines & Imperial Light Horse.

Queens’s South Africa Medal 1899 -1902. H.L.Fuller. Pte. RMLI, HMS Monarch.

Old Silver toned medal on ribbon. In very good condition. Paperwork confirms entitlement. Two unclaimed Clasps: ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL not with medal.

Harry Laughton Fuller was born on 18th April 1873 at Witton Park, Durham. He enlisted in the ROYAL MARINES on 18th October 1892 at Middlesbrough, aged 18 years old. He completed basic training at Walmer Depot, then transferred to the Portsmouth Division and HMS NILE, then to HMS MONARCH. It was whilst on the Monarch that he served in SOUTH AFRICA and was awarded a QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL.

The MONARCH was used as the Guardship at SIMONSTOWN. On return to base in Portsmouth Fuller left the ROYAL MARINES in August 1900 having completed 8 Years service and had two Good Conduct Badges. His address on discharge was given as ROYAL NAVAL RECREATION ROOM, SOUTH AFRICA.

Harry Fuller then joined the 1st SOUTH AFRICAN  IMPERIAL LIGHT HORSE and served with them for 2 years 1900-1902, during which time he suffered a bout of MALARIA in 1901.

During this Period of ACTIVE SERVCE he received two Clasp for his QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL: ORANGE FREE STATE & TRANSVAAL (never issued or claimed). Harry returned home after the war and married Jane Theaker in Middlesbrough in 1905.

Harry and Jane emigrated to CANADA in 1907. As WW1 started Harry enlisted on 13th September 1915 into the CANADIAN ENGINEERS with the service number 500528. His occupation was given as Iron Moulder, his address was 152, Delaware Street, London, Ontario. Harry served overseas and in England but did not go to France. Harry finished his time with the Army on 12th April 1919 with the rank of Sergeant. 
Harry returned back home to CANADA and  the 1931 Canadian Census shows Harry & Jane living at 225 Queen’s Avenue, London, Ontario, he was 58 years old and working as a Janitor.

Harry died suddenly on 5th October 1946, cause of death was  a CORONARY THROMBOSIS ( sudden) , he was 73 Years old, and was buried 3 days later on 8th October at the Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario.

There is a lot of paperwork including Harry’s South African & Canadian enlistment papers,pension record, death Certificate, etc.

Harry is man who served three different country’s in two major wars:

The ROYAL NAVY in the South Africa Boer War 1899-1900

The South Africa IMPERIAL LIGHT HORSE in the South Africa Boer War 1901-1902 

The CANADIAN ARMY ENGINEERS during WW1 1915-1919

HMS MONARCH 

Launched 25th May 1868, HMS MONARCH was the first true sea- going turret Ship, with a ships complement of 575 men.

HMS MONARCH was present at the Bombardment of Alexandria on 11th July 1882. In South Africa in 1899, seamen from HMS MONARCH were landed to join a NAVAL BRIGADE, under the Command of CAPTAIN PROTHERO, to fight in the second Boer War. They manned guns and suffered heavy casualties at the BATTLE OF GRASPAN on 25th November 1899.

In 1904 MONARCH was further reduced to a DEPOT ship and renamed SIMOOM, and sold for breaking up in 1905.