CB recipients, surname P - V

Medal Net advert:  Jul 04.  "I am seeking the CB (Boer War) to T W Porter of the NZ Forces. I have his QSA (Col CB), Long and Efficient Service Medal (Lt Col Commanding Poverty Bay District) and 1902 Coronation Medal in silver".

Transvaal War Album: Strange as it may seem to those who have watched with such keen interest the operations of General French, there was a time not long ago when some officers of competence were ready to declare that the days of cavalry were past. The war had scarcely begun when we found how necessary was the mounted arm, and the events of the war have given signal proof of its value. General Porter has commanded a regiment which has been prominent in General French's operations—the famous 6th Dragoon Guards, the old Carabiniers—and the increase of forces has brought him an appointment in South Africa as Brigadier-General. He joined the Carabiniers as a lieutenant in February, 1873, and, after serving five years and eight months with the regiment, was promoted. As a captain he fought with the Carabiniers through the Afghan War of 1879-S0, and was with Lieutenant-Colonel Fryer in the engagement at Ali Boghan. He advanced with the column into the Lughman Valley, and took part in the operations against the Wuzeeree Khugianis and in the Hissarik Valley. The Carnbiniers rendered great service in these movements, and Captain Porter was present with the regiment at the destruction of the villages of Nargozi, Arab Kheyl, and Jokan, and was mentioned in despatches and received the medal for his services. He was promoted to major in 1886 and lieutenant-colonel in 1895, and received the brevet of colonel in July, 1899. General Porter has rendered brilliant service in command of the Carabiniers in the present war.

He was born in 1851, and is son of the Reverend E J Porter. He formerly commanded the 6th Dragoon Guards, and served in the Afghan War in 1879-80 with the Khyber Division Kabul Field Force, including the affair against the Mohmunds at Ali Boghan, the expedition against Asmatoola Khan in Lughman Valley against the Waziri Khugiani and the Hissaracs, and the attack on, and destruction of, the villages of Nargozi, Arab Khel, and Yokan (despatches and medal). He also took part in the Boer War in 1899-1900, in command of the 1st Cavalry Brigade (despatches, QSA with five clasps, and CB). He married first, in 1878, Minnie (died 1889), daughter of J W M'Leod; and secondly, in 1903, Jane, daughter of C W Hodge.

Pratt, Lieutenant Colonel A S, RA

Born 26 April 1855.  Educated at Rugby and RMA Woolwich.  Gentleman Cadet 15 November 1872.  Commissioned into the Gunners 1874.  Served India January 1877 to November 78.  Instructor of Gunnery  April 1886 to May 1891 and November 1891 to March 95.  He was promoted to Major on 14 March 1891.  Served South Africa January 1900 to April 1901.  OFS February to May 1900.  Paarderberg 17 - 26 February 1900, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Biddulphsberg and Witterbergen.  Took command of the troops in Harrismith.  Lieutenant Colonel 13 Feb 1000.  Brevet Colonelcy on 10 February 1904.  Retired 13 February 1905.  Inspector of Remounts August 1914 - end of the War and wholly in the UK.  Presumably, he was not entitled to Great War medals.  CMG 3 Jun 1918.  He died in June 1933.

CB (m) n/b.  CMG n/b.  QSA (5) CC Paard Drie Witt SA01 (Lt Col RA) with minor correction.  1897 Jubilee.  Inc miniatures.  Spink, 30 Nov 00, estimate £700.

Prothero, Captain  R C, RN

See his biography.

Raitt, Major Herbert Aveling, South Staffordshire Regiment

Portrait			Medals
Miniatures	CB	Suspension	Campaign medals
1914-15 Star naming	BWM naming	KCIE document 1	KCIE document 2
Commission	Swords

He was the son of E R Raitt of Broughton’s, Newnham, Gloucestershire.  He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 80th Foot in 1878.  He served with the regiment in the South African War of 1878-79, including the operations against the Sekukuni and the storming and capture of their stronghold.  He was Adjutant of the 2nd Batt from February 1881 - June 1884.  He served in Sir Charles Warren's peaceful expedition into Bechuanaland in 1884-85, where he commanded a troop of Diamond Fields Horse.  He served with the Egyptian Army under Lord Kitchener for two years from 1894; he was advanced to Major in 1896.  He served in the Boer War, Commanding the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, from December 1900 (CB; MID London Gazette 10.9.1901); Colonel 1904; Commanded the South Midland Division, 1908-11,  Major-General 4 Sep 1912,  posted as GOC of the Mandalay Brigade, 1913-14, as GOC Burma Division he commanded the troops during the Kachin Rising of January-February 1915; the punitive operations were mentioned in the despatch of General Sir Beauchamp Duff, GCB, C-in-C India, (London Gazette 4 Jul 1916) thus, ‘Unrest, which had been brewing for some time among the Kachins, came to a head in December, 1914, and January, 1915, when punitive operations were undertaken.  The columns originally consisted of Burma Military Police, but as the disturbance appeared more general and likely to spread, regular troops were ordered up to Myitkyina.... In February, Major-General H. A. Raitt, C.B., Commanding Burma Division, proceeded to Myitkyina to direct operations. In the Kamaing and Mogaung Jurisdictions, and the adjoining un-administered territory, six columns operated during January and February.... Opposition encountered was in all cases successfully overcome, the rebel stockades captured, and the implicated villages destroyed.  In the country north of Myitkyina two columns were employed during the latter end of January and throughout February and these were equally successful in punishing the recalcitrant tribesmen.  The country in which these operations were carried out is of a particularly dense and difficult nature.  Major-General Raitt especially commends a night march carried out by a detachment of the 64th Pioneers over intricate country, followed by a successful attack on a rebel village’; Major-General Raitt retired from his command in November 1918 (KCIE 1919.).

[KCIE], CB (Mil), SAGS (1) 1878-9 (Lt, 80^th Foot), QSA (3) CC Witt Trans (Lt Col, CB, S Staffs Regt), KSA (2) (Lt Col, CB, S Staffs Regt), 1914-15 Star (Maj-Gen, CB), BWM (Maj-Gen), Victory Medal (Maj-Gen), 1911 Coronation (Brig-Gen, CB).  Spink Apr 08

Rawlinson, Major H S, CG

Commissioned into King's Royal Rifle Corps, he later transferred to the Coldstream Guards.  He was ADC to Roberts in India.  Served in Omdurman in 1898 and was in Ladysmith in 1899 and later on Roberts' staff.  He was a successful column commander in 1901-02 and promoted Colonel.  1914 commanded IV Corps, originally helping withdrawal of Belgian Army.  1916-18 Fourth Army.  1919 in charge of Allied withdrawal from Archangel and Murmansk.  Between 1920-25, he was C in C India.

See Spinks 17 Dec 97 and Christies Apr 84

The son of Sir Rawson W Rawson, KCMG, CB, a former Colonial Office official and Governor of the Windward Islands from 1868 to 1875 Colonel Rawson is an expert authority on submarine mining; served in the Boer War, and in 1905 was appointed Colonel on the Staff for Royal Engineers in South Africa. He is a Freemason; holds the Royal Engineer Fowke medal, and is a member of the Royal Meteorological and Physical Societies, in 1874 Colonel Rawson played cricket in the County XL for Kent, and was one of the English Association football team.

Reade, Major C J, SAMI

This officer rendered valuable service with the South Australian Mounted Rifles.

Rees, Captain W S, Royal Marine Light Infantry

Entered 1874; Brevet Colonel, 1899.  War service: Egyptian Expedition 1884 (medal with clasp; bronze star); Boer War, 1899-1900; with Ladysmith Relief Force; Colenso, wounded, 21st February.

Rhodes, Colonel F W

See his DSO entry.

Colonel Ricardo commanded with distinction the 1st Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry.

Rice, Lieutenant Colonel H G, Army Service Corps

Entered 1873; Brevet Colonel, 1899.  Staff service: Station Commandant, South Africa, 1899; AAG (Assistant Inspector General Lines of Communication), South Africa, 1899-1900; Brigade General Mounted Infantry Brigade, South Africa, February 1900.  War service: Egyptian Expedition 1882 (medal; bronze star); Miranzai Expedition 1891 (medal with clasp); Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

Rimington, Lieutenant Colonel M F, 6th Dragoons

Born in Wales, entering the Inniskilling Dragoons in 1881.  Colonel, September 1900.  After service in the Bechuanaland Expedition in 1884 and 1885, as well as in Zululand in 1888, he saw active service in the Boer War  when as commander of Rimington's Scouts/Guides, he won distinction at Magersfontein, at Thaba Nchu, the Brandwater Basin and elsewhere.  In his later career he was Inspector-General of Cavalry in India.

Robin, Major A W , New Zealand Contingent

Distinguished himself in command of the 1st New Zealand Contingent.

Roche, Lieutenant Colonel U de R, South Wales Borderers

Entered 1876; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  Staff service: DAAG, Bengal, 1890-95.  War service: Boer War, 1877-78 (medal with clasp); Burmese Expedition 1886-89 (medal with 2 clasps); Boer War, 1899-1900.

Romilly, Lieutenant Colonel F W

See his DSO entry.

Entered 1877; Lieutenant Colonel, South Africa, February 1900.  Staff Service: Inspector and Adjutant Great Indian Peninsula Railway, 1890-95; AMS and ADC to Lieutenant Governor, Punjab, 1898-1900.  War service: Afghan War, 1879-80 (medal); Boer War, 1899-1900; Commanded 8th Corps Mounted Infantry till severely wounded.

Rowell, Lieutenant Colonel J, SAMI

This officer commanded the 4th Contingent South Australian Bushmen.

See Soth 31 Jan 73 (112)

Scott, Lieutenant Colonel W A, Gordon Highlanders

Entered 1874; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  Staff service: Adjutant Volunteers, 1891-96; Commandant School of Inst.  for Military and Volunteers, Aldershot, 1897.  War Service: Boer War; Ladysmith.

Joined the Royal Navy in 1866, and saw active service in the Ashanti War of 1873 and in later campaigns in the Congo and in Egypt.  During the Boer War he came into prominence by bringing Naval guns from Durban for the defence of Ladysmith.  For this purpose he designed gun carriages capable of transporting 6 inch and 4.7 inch ordnance.  He later served in the Boxer Rebellion in China and, during the Great War, was in charge of the London air defences.

Sellheim, Major V C M, Queensland Mounted Infantry

Rendered valuable service with the Queensland Mounted Infantry.

Entered 1872; Lieutenant Colonel, 1899.  Staff service: lust.  School of Military Engineering, 1893-98.  War service: Afghan War, 1878-80 (medal); Sudan Expedition 1885 (medal with clasp; bronze star); Boer War, 1899-1900; with Ladysmith Relief Force; Spion Kop.

Smith, Lieutenant Colonel A F E, IY10

Smith, Lieutenant Colonel S B, 1st Dragoon Guards

Southey, Lieutenant Colonel R G, CMG

This energetic officer, formerly in HM Foot, commanded the Colonial Volunteers, and was Acting Staff Officer for Colonial Forces in South Africa.

Entered 1872; Lieutenant Colonel, 1898.  Staff service: Inspector R Military College, 1886-98.  War Service: Afghan War, 1879-80 (medal); Boer War, 1899-1900 (Despatches).

See Christries 17 Nov 87 (48)

Stanford, Lieutenant Colonel W E M, TranT: CMG

This officer commanded the East Griqualand Mounted Rifle Volunteers, and rendered valuable service.

Steele, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Benfield, Strathcona's Horse

Born in Canada in 1849, and is son of Captain E Steele, RN He took part in the Fenian Raids in Canada in 1866-70, and served with the Canadian Regular Artillery in the Red River Expedition in 1870 under Viscount Wolseley . In 1873 he joined the North-West Mounted Police, and took part in the North-West Campaign in 1885; also commanded the D Division of that force in an expedition to Kootenay, British Columbia, and commanded the corps in the Yukon territory during the latter's organisation in 1898-99, and was a member of the Council (ex officio) for the Government of the territory; also ex officio Stipendiary Magistrate for the Yukon territory, and collector of Royalty and Customs for the North-West territory and Yukon. He also acted as Commissioner of Police and of Peace for British Columbia. Subsequently he was seconded from the North-West Mounted Police, and took part with Lord Strathcona's Corps in the Boer War (despatches, KSA and two clasps). Since 1901 Colonel Steele has commanded the B Division of the South African Constabulary.  In 1915 he commanded the second Canadian contingent to be sent overseas in the Great War.  In 1916 he was appointed general officer commanding the Shorncliffe area in England, a post he held until the end of the war and his retirement in 1918.  He died at London on January 30, 1919.

Born Mar; 28, 1856; and is the only surviving son of Canon John Stephenson, of Weymonth. He was educated at Marlborough College, p.s.c, is interpreter to the Army in Turkish, and has passed language examinations in Urdu, Hindu, Pushtu, and Persian. He joined the 56th (2nd Essex) regiment in 1874, and served on the Staff from 1883-90 as DAAG at Gibraltar and York, went out to South Africa in 1899, in command of the 1st Battalion of the Essex regiment; gazetted in. Feb, 1900, as Major General on the staff commanding the 18th Brigade, and held the same rank while commanding the Barberton District and Portuguese Frontier Depot in 1900. General Stephenson commanded mobile columns in Cape Colony for the last year of the war; commanded the Bloemfontein District at the conclusion of peace, and was later appointed commander of the troops in the Transvaal, which position he still holds. Decorations: QSA and six clasps KSA and two clasps, Queen's Jubilee medal (1897), and he was four times mentioned in despatches. He married, in 1889, Philippa, only daughter of Colonel Gordon Watson.

Stephenson, Colonel William Flack, Royal Army Medical Corps

Born in Dublin on 29 May 1844. Educated at Dublin University he gained the BA, MB and MCh. In March 1866 he entered the Army Medical Service as an Assistant Surgeon on the Staff and with the Royal Artillery. He was promoted to Surgeon, March 1876, Surgeon-Major, March 1878, Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel, March 1886 and Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel, August 1892 - during which time he served in the West Indies and India. During 1890-92 he was employed as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Army Medical School, Netley and was Professor of Clinical and Military Surgery there during 1892-95. Stevenson was promoted to Surgeon Colonel in July 1896. In South Africa he held the temporary rank of Surgeon-General whilst P.M.O., Lines of Communication, 12 November 1899-5 February 1900; the temporary and local rank of Surgeon-General whilst PMO, Army HQ, South Africa, 4 May 1900; temporary rank of Surgeon-General whilst employed at the Royal Army Medical College, 14 January 1903 and honorary rank of Surgeon-General, 16 July 1913. For his services in the Boer War he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 8 February 1901) and created a Companion of the Order of the Bath. In 1905 he was appointed Honorary Surgeon to King Edward VII. The author of Wounds in War, the Mechanism of their Production and their Treatment, 1910. He was re-employed in the Great War and died on 7 July 1922.

CB s/g b/b.  QSA (5) CC Paard Drie Joh Belf (Col CB RAMC).  1911 Coronation.  DNW Dec 06 £880.

Supple, Colonel J F, Royal Army Medical Corps

See his DSO entry.

Thorneycroft, Major Alexander Whitclaw

Was born at Tettenhall, Jan 19, 1859. He is son of Lieutenant Colonel I Thorneycroft, of Tettenhall Towers, Wolverhampton, and Hadley Park, Salop, was educated at Wellington College, and joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, Feb 22, 1879, becoming Captain in 1887, Major in 1899, Lieutenant Colonel in 1900, and full Colonel in 1902. He acted as DAAG in Natal from Sep 16, 1899, to Oct 16, 1899, when he was selected for special service until the end of 1901. Colonel Thorncycroft has seen much active service in SA, beginning with the operations in 1879-81, including the Zulu Campaign, attack and capture of Sekukuni's kraal (medal with clasp), and the first Transvaal Campaign and siege of Pretoria. In the Boer War of 1899-1902 he raised and commanded that smart body of men known a Thorncycroft's Mounted Infantry, who rendered such a good account of themselves. He tool part in the relief of Ladysmith, the actions a Colcnso, Spion Kop, Vaal Kranz, Tugela Heights, Pieter's Hill, and Laing's Nek. In the latter half of 1900 he operated in the Eastern Transvaal, and subsequently commanded mobile column and group of columns in the Transvaal, ORC and Cape Colony (despatches, medals, and clasps, and CB). Colonel Thorneycroft He received his present appointment as AAG, 7th Div. of the 3rd Army Corps, November 12, 1902. He is fond of shooting and racquets, and married, on June 20, 1903, Mrs Burrard Crozier, daughter of Major J W Percy, and cousin of Sir Maurice FitzGerald, Bart., Knight of Kerry.

Trotter, Colonel J K, CMG

Entered RA 1870; Colonel, 1899.  Staff service:  Special Service, Bechuanaland, 1884-85; Brigade Major (Cork District) RA and Malta, 1886-90; Staff Captain (Intelligence) Headquarters of Army, 1890-91; DAAG (Intelligence.) Headquarters of Army, 1892-95; employed on Sierra Leone Boundary Commission, 1895-96; AAG South Africa, 1899; DAG South Africa, January 1900.  War Service: Bechuanaland Expedition 1884-85 (honourably mentioned); Boer War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

Tunbridge, Major W H, Queensland Mounted Infantry

Rendered valuable service with the 3rd Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry.

CB (m) (b/b s/g), QSA (4) CC Paard Drif Tr, KSA (2).  RHQ

Vialls, Major H G, West Australian Contingent

A notable member of the West Australian Bushman's Corps.