The unique campaign group of four awarded to Captain T. H. Buey, Royal Munster Fusiliers,...

The unique campaign group of four awarded to Captain T. H. Buey, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services during the Bassa Expedition against the Okpotos in West Africa in 1904 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (3089 Clr:- Serjt: T. Buey. Rl: Muns: Fus:); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, N. Nigeria 1903-04 (3089 C. Serjt. T. H. Buey. Rl. Munster Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. T. H. Buey.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3089 C. Sjt. I. Of M. T. H. Buey. Rl. Munster Fus.); together with the recipient’s Army Temperance Association India 1 Year Medal, unnamed; and Royal Army Temperance Association Award of Merit Medal, the reverse impressed ‘C-S-I-M. T. H. Buey 101st Regt. Dist. 1908’, with integral ‘Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat’ riband bar, light contact marks, very fine and better, the AGS with this clasp unique to unit (6) £1,600-£2,000 --- Thomas Henry Buey was born on 25 October 1870 and attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers on 25 September 1889. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India from 27 November 1893 to 19 December 1901, and was advanced Colour Sergeant on 15 March 1900. Proceeding to South Africa on 20 December 1901 for service during the Boer War, he arrived in South Africa in early 1902, before arriving home on 6 November 1902. Appointed Colour Sergeant in the Northern Nigeria Regiment, West Africa Frontier Force, on 28 February 1903, he proceeded for West Africa that same day, and saw active service during the Bassa expedition against the Okpotos under Captain G. C. Merrick, Royal Artillery, 23 December 1903 to 12 March 1904; this small force consisted of nine British officers; three British Non-Commissioned Officers (including Buey, the only Royal Munster Fusilier present); and 262 native ranks. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches as having ‘done good sound work throughout’ (London Gazette 25 August 1905). Returning home on 6 April 1904, Merrick was appointed Colour Sergeant Instructor of Musketry in the 4th Battalion on 2 November 1905, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 1 January 1907. He was Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Muster Fusiliers on 29 September 1915, and was appointed Adjutant of a Special Reserve Battalion on 1 March 1916, being promoted temporary Lieutenant whilst so employed, and was confirmed in this rank on 26 December on 1916 (entitled to a British War Medal only). He was advanced temporary Captain on 31 January 1919, and retired, having reached the age limit, on 30 January 1920, being granted the rank of Captain. He died in London on 28 December 1942. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient; copied service records, medal roll extracts; and other research, including a complete photocopy of ‘Standing Orders of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Munster Fusiliers (Kerry Regient), Aghada, October 1916, prepared by Buey; and a complete photocopy of the ‘Despatch relating to Field Operations’ of the West Africa Frontier Force, 5 September 1904, being a full account of the Bassa expedition, in which Buey is mentioned.