BOER WAR & WW1 MEDALS TO 8726 MAURICE HILL HAMPSHIRE & SUSSEX REGIMENT BRITISH ARMY

Offered is a Queens South Africa Medal (1899 – 1902), with 3 clasps, CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, JOHANNESBURG, impressed named 8726 P^TE M. HILL. 2^ND HAMPSHIRE REG^T; Kings South Africa Medal (1902), with 2 clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, impressed named 8736 P^TE M. HILL. HAMPSHIRE REG^T; 1914 – 15 Star, impressed named GSSR-469 P^TE M. HILL. R.SUSS:R.; British War and Victory Medals, impressed named GSSR-469 PTE. M. HILL. R. SUSS.R. Court mounted for display. Comes with copies medal rolls and M.I.C.

Note the two different service numbers on the Boer War medals and rolls 8726 & 8736.

The prefix GSSR is seldom seen on medal groups.

Maurice Hill, a native of Worthing, served with the Hampshire Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War. By the time of the Great War, he joined the General Service Special Reserve - men joining the Special Reserve for Wartime service only.

He served in France from 31 August 1915 with the 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. The Battalion was formed at Chichester in September 1914 and was part of Kitchener's New Army. After formation the Battalion went into camp on the South Downs around Brighton where it often took part in recruitment marches on the seafront. Here it became part of the 73rd Brigade of 24th Division. In December 1914 the battalion moved to Portslade, and in April 1915 to Shoreham. In June 1915 a further move was made to Woking, in Surrey. Within a few weeks of their arrival, the Battalion was thrown into the Battle of Loos, suffering heavy losses. As an older soldier it is possible that he was serving in the transport or in a quartermaster role within the unit.