Description

Offered is a 1914 – 15 Star, impressed named PTE J. COLEMAN S.A.IRISH.RGT.; British War and South African bi lingual Victory Medal (1914 – 18) impressed named DVR. J. COLEMAN. S.A.S.C. Court mounted for display.

The South African Irish Regiment was raised either on the 9^th September 1914 or 1^st December 1914, sources vary but more probable 9^th September as by the 1^st December the battalion, consisting of six companies, at Booysens Camp in Johannesburg. After training, the regiment was made part of 4 South African Infantry Brigade and embarked from Cape Town to German South-West Africa (Namibia) on 21 December 1914. On 25 December 1914 the Force landed at Walvis Bay and went into action immediately. The Regiment itself first came into contact with their German enemy on the following day, barely three months after it was raised.

At the end of the campaign in South-West Africa, Active Citizen Force regiments were by law not permitted to proceed to other theatres of war as such. Special war service units were thus created to fight in East Africa and Europe.

At some stage he transferred to the South African Army Service Corps and it is possible that this occurred at the conclusion of the campaign.