This artefact is the unique medal group of Captain Joseph Entwhistle Donald. What makes it so interesting is that Donald’s medals tell us he served in the Anglo-Boer War, World War I and World War II.
5226 Captain Donald served with the British Army, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) during the Boer War. He was wounded at Spion Kop on 24 January 1900 and then invalided home on 18 March 1901. It is possible he also served with the South African Constabulary. Donald served with the 9th South African Infantry Regiment during WWI and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for actions at Mpondi, East Africa. He also served during WWII.
Donald’s medals are on display in the National Army Museum’s Medal Repository. From left Distinguished Conduct Medal, Queen’s South Africa Medal with Transvaal, Cape Colony and Relief of Ladysmith bars, King’s South Africa Medal with South Africa 1902 and South Africa 1901 bars, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal 1914-1918, Victory Medal (with MID = Mentioned in Despatches), WWII Defence Medal.
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