A fine and fascinating Boer War casualty group and later Great War Officers Group awarded to Private G.H.S. Potter, 2nd Battalion, Railway Pioneer Regiment, late of the Royal Navy who had served a thoroughly undistinguished 15 years in the Royal Navy befo

A fine and fascinating Boer War casualty group and later Great War Officers Group awarded to Private G.H.S. Potter, 2nd Battalion, Railway Pioneer Regiment, late of the Royal Navy who had served a thoroughly undistinguished 15 years in the Royal Navy before joining the Regiment in time to see action during the Boer War where he was dangerously wounded on 20th November 1901. Retiring shortly afterwards, he would find himself re-enlisting for the Great War where he saw service as a Captain in the 20th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and later as a Captain in the Royal Engineers including with the Inland Water Transport. Having been kicked by a mule in 1918, and then being thrown out of a side-car in a road accident he would be demobilised aged 47 in September 1919. Queens South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, the last two bars loose on the ribbon (3163 PTE. G.H.S POTTER. RLY. PNR. RGT.) 1914-1915 Star (CAPT. G.H.S. POTTER. R.FUS.) British War Medal and Victory Medal (CAPT G.H.S. POTTER.) George Herbert Spilsbury Potter was born in 1872 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in 1885. His naval career appears to have been not entirely successfyl, although he did rise through the ranks of officers becoming a Lieutenant in 1896. His service record makes interesting reading but, the incidents referred to in his records include the following, deprived of 6 months time for being drunk ashore in Hong Kong. Deprived of 1 months time for carelessly leaving a gun loaded, the charge exploding when it was put away. Charged with conduct prejudicial to good order. Severely reprimanded and dismissed his shop for neglect of duty. On 4th April 1901, he was placed on the Retired list (unfit). Whatever rendered him unfit does not appear to have prevented him joining the Railway Pioneer Regiment during the Boer War. In addition, Porters naval service records indicate that in May 1910 he was granted his certificate as Master for the Mercantile Marine. His record of service confirms that Potter enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Railway Pioneer Regiment on 23rd July 1901. He was dangerously wounded in action on 20th November 1902 at Bothas Kraal, also called Villiersdorp. In a dispatch of 21st November 1901, Lord Kitchener stated that Commandant Buys had been captured after attacking a patrol of approximately 100 men of the Railway Pioneer Regiment on the Vaal River near Villiersdorp. Discharged on 11th March 1902, he re-enlisted on 27th October 1914 becoming a Captain in the 20th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He went overseas with the Battalion in October 1915 but was invalided home as a result of Pleurisy in March 1916. It would appear that he returned to France before being sent back to England on sick leave in May 1916. In August 1916 he was appointed a Temporary Captain in the Royal Engineers and served with the 239th Light Railway Forward Company. His service record shows that in September 1918, he appeared before a medical Board after being kicked on the right thigh by a mule, the injury worsening following a fall. The injury resulted in his hospitalisation. Returning to duty, Captain Potters catalogue of mishaps continued when on 20th January 1919, at Bethune, a Portuguese car ran into the motorcycle and side-car in which he was travelling, he being knocked out of the side car into the road. His injuries were not serious and the accident was blamed on the driver of the car. He was demobilised in September 1919. Court-mounted for display. (4) Good Very Fine