The following Honours and Mentions were gained by the Victorian
Contingents:—
Lieutenant L C Maygar, 5th VMR, gained
the Victoria Cross.
LORD ROBERTS' DESPATCH: 2nd April 1901.—Mounted Rifles: Colonel T Price;
Majors Eddy (killed), I).
M'Leish; Lieutenants M T Kirby,
J L Lilley;
Adjutant S T Staughton; Sergeants H
H Bell, P J Dalimore; Privates H J Cooke, R J Gardiner, E Starkey.
Mounted Infantry: Colonel J C Hoad. Imperial Bushmen: Lieutenant
Colonel N W Kelly.
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCHES: 8th
March 1901.—Imperial Bushmen, 4th contingent: Lieutenant Colonel N W Kelly;
Captains E Tivey, P J Dallimore
(contingent not stated); Lance Corporal R M'Rae; Privates W Sheehan, J Clay,
J Green, P O'Brien (promoted corporals); Corporal Elliot; Privates A M
Burke, D E Wallace.
8tk May 1901.—Victorian Imperial Regiment (4th contingent): Captain A H
Sturdee, medical officer at Middelwater, Cape Colony, on April 22nd rode
half a mile under fire to a donga near enemy's position, in which were some
wounded men who needed medical aid,—Lance Corporal J W Willing assisting on
same occasion. 5th VMR: Lieutenant and Adjutant H A Anderson has shown
a fine dash on several occasions under fire, and by his coolness and
determination extricated a patrol from a very difficult situation near
Rhenoster Kop on May 7th 1901. Lieutenant J H Paterson, medical
officer, on same occasion proceeded, under fire, to within 70 yards of enemy
in order to assist wounded, and remained under close fire for over two
hours; and though constantly shot at, continued to attend wounded, and
remained behind with them when the patrol withdrew, though he was without
Red Cross brassard.
From Colonel Henniker's Despatch on operations in Zuurberg, CC, in March
1901.—Victorian Imperial Bushmen, 4th contingent: I cannot speak too highly
of the excellent way in which Major Clarke
has always carried out his orders, and the manner in which his officers and
men back him up. In the announcement of the award of DSO to Major
Clarke, it was said to be "for able command of operations against De Wet".
From Lord Methuen's Despatch of 16th March as to attack on Wolmaranstad, 6th
March.—Victorian Imperial Bushmen: Lance Corporal A N Gregg, promoted
Sergeant, rode twice across open and bullet-swept ground to look for missing
man, found him, and brought him back safely. Seems specially deserving
of praise. Corporal Walker, Staff-Sergeant A S Mackenzie, Troopers J J
Butler, Jamieson, and Duncan took back spare horses to bring out men whose
horses had bolted.
From Colonel Henniker's Special Despatch of April 1st.—VIB: Sergeant D
Sandford, Lance Corporal Legerwood, Trooper J Browning, at Zuurberg, CC,
March 31, in returning from reconnoitring, and pressed by enemy, a man's
horse fell and pinned him to the ground; these three men went back under
fire, released him, and brought him in.
8th July 1901.—Vet.-Lieutenant S Sherlock, on June 7th, at Wilmansrust, when
doctor was killed, took charge of 40 wounded, and by his skill and attention
much alleviated suffering and danger; an excellent officer in his own
department. Victorian Imperial Regiment: Corporal Hewitt (promoted
Sergeant), under a heavy fire, in response to a call for volunteers, with
Quartermaster Sergeant Johnstone, entered a farm and brought out four
armed Boers. May 13th, in Cape Colony, Trooper Hipland (promoted
Corporal), on same occasion, though wounded, rode back to cover retreat of
another man, QM-Sergeant Johnstone, same occasion, twice brought to notice,
mentioned in Army Orders. VMR: Private H A Wilson (promoted Corporal),
along with Private G Davidson, Kitchener's Horse, as a scout has on many
occasions shown exceptional skill and nerve. At time Delarey and
Beyers were in Megaliesberg, voluntarily and alone on several occasions took
most important messages through Boer lines.
Stk August 1901.—VI Regment: Corporal Pike, promoted Sergeant at
Grootreitvlei, CC, May 13, same occasion as Quartermaster Sergeant Johnstone
(see above).
1st June 1902.—5th VMR: Sergeant Major Keeble, for gallant capture of Boers
single-handed at Rhenoster Kop in May 1901.
26th June 1902.—Nursing Sisters M Rawson (got Royal Red Cross) and Isobel
Ivey. Major M O'Farrell;
Captains G G F Chomley, A J Christie; Lieutenants
G J Bell, T S L O'Reilly, H Kessell;
Regimental Sergeant Major R S Goode (1st Dragoon Guards); Company Sergeant
Major J W Keeble; Sergeants J Kilbeg, A Watt; Lance Corporal W Hutchins;
Private J Birch.
