RARE BOER WAR DSO MEDAL GROUP: MAJOR FOSTER: SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY MID PRE WW1

Offered is a scarce Boer War Militia Officer’s D.S.O. group of four awarded to Major M. A. Foster, 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

Distinguished Order (V.R.), Jubilee 1897 Medal, Queens South Africa Medal (1899 – 1902), 1 clasp CAPE COLONY, period engraved named Capt. & Adjt: M.A. FOSTER. Som: L.I.; Kings South Africa Medal (1901 - 1902), 2 clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, period engraved Maj. & Adjt. M.A. FOSTER.  D.S.O. Som. L.I. Last three mounted as worn. Comes with copies of service record, medal rolls, caricature drawing and research.

D.S.O. London Gazette 27/9/1901. 'In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa'.

M.I.D. London Gazette 10/9/1901 and 29/7/1902.

Major Montagu Amos Foster D.S.O. was born on 19/3/1861 in London. Appointed as Gentleman to be Second Lieutenant in the 2nd East Norfolk Militia on 10 December 1879, gazetted to the Somerset Light Infantry 28/1/1882; promoted to Captain 23/9/1887; Adjutant (Militia) 15/5/1899 to 25/2/1904. Captain Foster served in the South African War, 1900-2; as Adjutant, 4th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, April 1900 to 20 April 1902 operations in Cape Colony. South of Orange River, April to 29 November 1900. Operations in Cape Colony, 30 November 1900 to April 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette, 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902) and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 27 September. 1901). His D.S.O. was presented by the King 29/10/1901. He was promoted to Major 21/4/1902. Major Foster retired from the Somerset Light Infantry 19/3/1909. He married, in 1898 to Ida Frances, daughter of Colonel G C Thompson, ISC. Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book).

Served Home 28/1/1882 – 9/11/1891. Gibraltar 10/11/1891 – 18/10/1893. Home 19/10/93 – 6/3/1900. South Africa 7/3/00 – 15/5/1902. Home 14/5/1902 – 15/4/1904. East Indies 16/4/1904 – 29/10/08. Home 30/10/1908 and was placed on the Retired List in March 1909, he died 30/4/1940.