United Kingdom. A Queen's South Africa Medal Group, 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

Includes: 

1. Queen's South Africa Medal, 3 Clasps - CAPE COLONY, WITTEBERGEN, SOUTH AFRICA 1901 (8184 PTE, A. FRASER. HIGH. L. I,). Naming is officially impressed in capitals. Dark patina, very light contact, replacement ribbon, near mint. In its cardboard box of issue, inscribed "QUEEN'S S.A. MEDAL. / 8184 / PTE. A. FRASER / HIGH. L.I." on the lid, the box in its "On His Majesty's Service" mailing envelope, the obverse with a registration label numbered "1726", addressed to "MR. A.G. FRASER / 222H. WILSON AVENUE, / MONTREAL, / CANADA", the reverse date stamped "14 MAY 1930" at Montreal. 

2. Proclamation to the Citizens of the Orange Free State, announcing to "Men, Brothers!: obverse with the text in Dutch and bearing the Orange Free State coat-of-arms, from State President M.T. Steljn and By Order of Government Secretary P.J. Blignaut, reverse inscribed in handwritten black ink, in running script "Pte. A. Fraser No. 8184 / 1 Batt. Highland Light Infantry / Highland Brigade / Field Force / South Africa" and "Kraaifontein (misspelled Karafontien) / Sept. 13th 1900", measuring 71 mm (w) x 430 mm (h), yellowed paper with multiple creases and tape repair, rolled. 

3. Photo of Private A.G. Fraser in his Highland Light Infantry uniform: black and white, faded to a slight sepia-toned look, mounted a cardboard backer and studio marked "Wohlgemuth & C. / 108 RENFIELD St. GLASGOW", measuring 62 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), housed under glass in a wooden frame with easel back, the frame measuring 77 mm (w) x 228 mm (h). 

4. Photo of South African War Veterans' Association 56th Anniversary Dinner at Montreal 1956: black and white, gloss finish, illustrating approximately 95 men either seated or standing at a banquet dinner, with the Union Jack along with the flag of the South African War Veterans' Association flanking a banner on the back wall, entitled in white text "Fifty Sixth Anniversary Dinner / South African War Veterans / FEBRUARY 24th 1956" and studio marked "Famous Studio MONTREAL", measuring 505 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), rolled. 

5. First War Canadian Bank Of Commerce Letters From The Front, Two Volume Set: both volumes: hardcover, red cloth cover, with The Canadian Bank of Commerce insignia on the front cover, along with a caduceus and text on the spine in gold-coloured ink, entitled "Letters From The Front - Being a Record of the Part Played by Officers of the Bank in the Great War 1914-1919", Volumes I and II, issued by The Canadian Bank of Commerce, published by Southam Press Limited of Toronto and Montreal in 1920-1921.

(i) Volume I: begins with the statement: "The "Letters from the Front" pamphlets edited by CHARLES LYONS FOSTER have been supplemented, and incorporated in this volume by WILLIAM SMITH DUTHIE", followed by a three page Introduction by General Manager Sir John Aird (November 15, 1855 - November 30, 1938, a Canadian banker who joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce in 1878, becoming president of that organization in 1924 and holding the position until 1929) and dated March 31, 1920, and a four page Preface by the Editor, C.L. Foster and dated March 31, 1920 at Toronto. This is succeeded by a list entitled "The Enlistments from the Bank", plus 99 black and white plates featuring the portrait photographs of 392 of the bank's staff who gave their lives in the war, and of those who were decorated or mentioned in despatches, the gallery followed by a note of regret that they were unable to obtain photographs of five members of their staff who had received decorations. The bulk of the book is featured in the section entitled "Letters from the Front", with dated letters written by members of the bank's staff who were overseas during the war, documenting daily life, each letter with an editor's notation and update. It concludes with a four page Index to Letter-writers and References. It contains 510 pages, printed in black ink on a thick newsprint stock, plus 50 pages incorporating the plates printed in black ink, on a white paper stock, measuring 185 mm (w) x 250 (h) x 45 mm (d);
(ii) Volume II: begins with a photograph of the Memorial Plaque, followed by a poem entitled "The Volunteer", a List of Illustrations (35) and their corresponding page references, an Introduction by Assistant General Manager H.V.F. Jones and dated March 31, 1921, and a Prologue. Plate No. 2 has an eight-panel fold-out line map entitled "Map illustrating the Chief Operations in the Western Theatre of War". The map is followed by a five page Roll of Honour, with a photograph of Private L.J. Smith (KIA), and Honours Awarded, incorporating the portraits of five members of the staff who were decorated or mentioned in despatches. The bulk of book is Biographies of the participants, with photographic plates inserted at various intervals throughout, including: the portraits of eight lady members of the staff who saw active service; the King's Letter to wounded Canadian on the occasion of their departure for Canada; the King's Letter accompanying the Memorial Plaque; badges presented to Mr. H.V.F. Jones (the bank's Assistant General Manager); two plates featuring ten British awards; a plate featuring six foreign awards; two plates of Branch Memorial Tablets; two plates featuring Memorial Statues that the bank planned to erected in its Head Office Building; ten plates illustrating various British Navy and Army cap badges; nine plates illustrating various Canadian Corps cap badges; an assortment of badges of United States units; and a pair of German heavy machine guns (the British, Canadian and American badges designating units in which members of the Bank's staff saw active service). It contains 546 pages, printed in black ink on a thick newsprint stock, plus 37 pages incorporating the plates printed in black ink, on a white paper stock, the map in black ink on an off-white paper stock, page i fronted by a vellum insert and housing a dried maple leaf, measuring 185 mm (w) x 250 (h) x 50 mm (d). 

Both volumes together weigh 3 kilograms and feature scalloped edges on the pages. 
(6) Volume II also houses: (i) a business card inscribed "With the compliments of / The General Manager / The Canadian Bank of Commerce / Toronto", the card measuring 112 mm (w) x 63 mm (h); (ii) along with two letters bearing The Canadian Bank of Commerce Head Office Toronto, Canada letterhead, each dated 10th May 1954 and addressed to "A.G. Fraser. Esq. / The Canadian Bank of Commerce / Montreal, Que.": (a) First Letter inscribed: "Dear Mr. Fraser: In accordance with the advices already conveyed to you we record that the following arrangements have been made for your retirement on 31st May 1954. From 1st June 1954 you have been granted six months' leave of absence on full salary without cost of living allowance. From 1st December 1954 a payment will be made to you at the rate of $900 per annum payable during the Bank's pleasure. All payments will be made by the Chief Accountant in monthly instalments through the Montreal branch unless advised otherwise. Yours truly", signed in black ink pro (for) the General Manager; (b) Second Letter inscribed "Dear Mr. Fraser: While you are being advised officially of the arrangements for your retirement, I want to express our appreciation of the long and loyal service you have given the Bank. I trust you will soon regain your health and enjoy the many years of rest you have so well earned. Yours very truly," signed in black ink by the General Manager, N.J. McKinnon; both letters measuring 205 mm (w) x 263 mm (h), with fold marks. 

Extremely fine. 

Footnote: 8184 Private Alexander G. Fraser, 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry served in South Africa during the Boer War and was entitled to the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with three clasps: Cape Colony, Wittebergen and South Africa 1901, which was shipped to him while living in Montreal in 1930. He also served in India with the same unit, but with a different service number (74752), entitling him to the India General Service Medal 1905-1935 with Afghanistan NWF 1919 clasp. He later immigrated to Canada, settling in Montreal, Quebec, where he would retire from his career at The Canadian Bank of Commerce (now the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce = CIBC) in Montreal and would receive this two volume set entitled "The "Letters from the Front - Being a Record of the Part Played by Officers of the Bank in the Great War 1914-1919".