orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

November 22, 2012 - LoNdoN
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A Fine Campaign Group of Six to Major D.A. Blair, Indian Army, Late Highland Light Infantry, Twice Mentioned
in Despatches for the Boer War, In Which He Organized and Led the Gallant Defence of Commissie Bridge,
6.12.1900- ‘A Small Affair, But Still it Was Something For A Second Lieutenant to Have Beaten De Wet’
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, two clasps, Modder River, Wittebergen (Lieut. D.A. Blair. 1/High. L.I.); King’s South
Africa 1901-02, two clasps (Lt. D.A. Blair. High. L.I.); 1914 Star, with copy Bar (Capt. D.A. Blair, 2/39/Garhl. Rfls.);
British War and Victory Medals (Capt. D.A. Blair), surname partially officially corrected; Defence Medal (Major D.A. Blair),
impressed in large sans-serif capitals, generally good very fine, mounted court style as worn (6)
£500-600
Major Douglas Alexander Blair, born July 1879; Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Highland Light Infantry, October 1899; served
with the 1st Battalion in South Africa, and was present in the advance on Kimberley and the engagements at Modder River and
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; took part in operations in Orange Free State, February to May 1900, and in the Orange
River Colony, May to November 1900, including the actions at Wittebergen and Witpoort.
Defence of Commissie Bridge
In December 1900 half of ‘D’ Company, under Blair, was given the task of holding Commissie Bridge: ‘We found the Commissie Bridge
to be a fine iron one about 200 yards long, supported by four massive stone pillars, and spanning the Caledon River, which there runs
between high banks; therefore an important place to protect, for, although there is a drift a little higher up the river, the destruction of
the bridge would have caused our forces a good deal of inconvenience had the Boers succeeded in blowing it up. The only buildings were
a stone house, occupied by a native labourer connected with the bridge, and a tin one for the toll collector who had disappeared.’
(Recipient’s own account in the H.L.I. Chronicle, April 1901, refers).
The defences consisted of four trenches covering either end of the bridge and four more from which fire could be directed up or down
the gorge. Although Blair had been left alone with his Platoon of 40 men in this remote spot for some weeks, he was evidently keeping a
sharp look-out, so that when, on the 6th December, scouts of De Wet’s advanced guard arrived they were immediately spotted: ‘The Boer
Scouts having reported the bridge held, the advanced guard of some 300 men attempted to cross at a point where the gorge levelled out
lower down, but were frustrated by the enfilade fire which Blair opened on them and withdrew out of range. An envoy under a flag of
truce then arrived, was halted some distance away, and then brought in blindfolded. He handed Blair a written order from De Wet to
surrender within ten minutes, but was sent back a reply which was, the Cape Times stated “a sarcastic one”.
The Boers then brought up two of the guns which they had captured at Dewetsdorp and bombarded the defences at either side of the
bridge, while their riflemen dismounted and endeavoured to work forward from three sides. Unable to make any headway, they then
desisted for a while and finally renewed the attack from in front in considerable force, but could get no closer than 300 yards. Finally they
drew off discomforted, having been held up by Blair and his men for 24 hours. Hector MacDonald in his official report of this incident
stated that “Second Lieutenant Blair’s presence of mind and resolution are in the General’s opinion worthy of all praise”. It may only have
been a small affair, in which Blair and his Platoon did no more than their plain duty, but still it was something for a Second Lieutenant to
have beaten De Wet.’ (Proud Heritage, The Story of the Highland Light Infantry, by Lieutenant Colonel Oates refers).
Promoted Lieutenant, 2.1.1901, and Twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 7.5.1901 and 10.9.1901); Blair transferred to the
Indian Army, November 1903, and initially joined the 2nd (King Edward’s Own) Gurkha Rifles before moving, prior to the outbreak of
the Great War, to the 39th Garhwal Rifles. Served during the Great War on the Western Front, promoted Major, September 1915, and
appointed a Regimental Company Commander, March 1916.
PROVENANCE:
Spink, November 1998
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