orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

November 22, 2012 - LoNdoN
45
An I.G.S. and Boer War Pair to Sergeant W.
Christie, Highland Light Infantry, Wounded at
Magersfontein, 11.12.1899, on Which Occasion
Corporal Shaul of the Regiment was Awarded the
Victoria Cross for Dressing Men’s Wounds Under
Heavy Fire Out in the Open; Severely Wounded at
Retief’s Nek, 23.7.1900; and Mentioned in
Despatches
India General Service 1895-1902, V.R., one clasp,
Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (No.3424. Sergt: W.
Christie. 2. High: L.I.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-
1902, three clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg,
Wittebergen (3424 Sgt. W. Christie, 1st. High: Lt.
Infy.), nearly very fine (2)
£240-280
3424 Sergeant William Christie, born North Leith,
Edinburgh, 1871; enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry,
November 1889; promoted Corporal, June 1892; served
with the 2nd Battalion in India, November 1894 to March
1899; promoted Sergeant, 1895, and took part in the
Campaigns on the North West Frontier at Malakand, and
present at the operations in Bajour, in Mamund Country, at
Buner, and the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass; served
with the 1st Battalion in South Africa, October 1899 to
December 1900; wounded at Magersfontein, 11.12.1899,
when the Battalion’s losses throughout the day were 2
Officers and 12 men killed and 7 Officers, including the
Commanding Officer, and 73 men wounded- Corporal John
Shaul, in charge of the Battalion’s stretcher-bearers, was
awarded the Victoria Cross at Magersfontein for most
conspicuous gallantry during the day in dressing men’s
wounds out in the open under continuous heavy fire, in one
instance ‘as calmly as if there had been no enemy near’.
Mentioned in Despatches for gallantry in action at
Wittebergen, 9.7.1900 (London Gazette 30.11.1900), and
severely wounded at Retief’s Nek, 23.7.1900: ‘That day the
Highland Light Infantry did much useful work, gaining a
footing on the lower spurs and kloofs of the rocky height to
our left of the nek. During the night a portion of the H.L.I.,
guided by several men of Lovat’s Scouts, succeeded in
gaining possession of the highest peak of the hill on the east
of the pass, a point of vantage whence a successful occupation
of the whole height was made next day’ (British Regiments in
South Africa 1899-1902 refers); discharged, 28.3.1901, after
11 years and 145 days with the Colours; died Perth,
26.11.1914.
Lieutenant-Colonel F.M. Sandys-Lumsdaine
51
46
46
Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel F.M. Sandys-Lumsdaine,
Highland Light Infantry
India General Service 1895-1902, V.R., one clasp,
Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Capt. and Adjnt. F.M.
Sandys-Lumsdaine 2. High: L.I.); Queen’s South
Africa 1899-1902, three clasps, Cape Colony, South
Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets
between State and date clasps (Capt. F.M. Sandys-
Lumsdaine, H’land: L.I.), minor contact marks, nearly
very fine, together with various photographic images
of the recipient (2)
£500-600
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Myles Sandys-Lumsdaine,
born November 1865, the second son of the Rev. F. Sandys-
Lumsdaine, of Lumsdaine and Blanerne, Berwickshire, and of
Innergellie, Fife; Commissioned Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion,
Highland Light Infantry, November 1885; promoted
Captain, December 1892; served as Adjutant, 2nd Battalion,
April 1897 to June 1900; served with the Regiment in the
campaign on the North West Frontier of India under the
command of Sir William Lockhart, and took part in the
operations of the Malakand and Buner Field Forces including
the forcing of the Tanga Pass (Mentioned in Despatches);
Appointed Brigade Major, August 1900, he served in South
Africa on the Staff as Station Commandant at Riversdale,
Cape Colony, from January 1901; whilst in South Africa he
served as prosecuting counsel at the trial of Frederick Toy, a
Swedish-born guerrilla and spy in Boer service, charged with
High Treason and Attempted Murder; Toy was subsequently
found guilty and executed in September 1901. Promoted
Major, February 1904, Sandys-Lumsdaine transferred to the
Reserve of Officers in February 1913. On the outbreak of the
Great War he was appointed to the Command of the 12th
(Service) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, a
position he held until 1915; subsequently he held Staff
appointments at home, finally retiring with the rank of
Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1919. He died in October 1938.