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Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM VR (97538 Serjt: W. Lodge. R.H.A.);
QSA (5) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (97538 Serjt. W. Lodge, U Bty., R.H.A.)

DCM London Gazette 27 September 1901.

William Lodge was born in Red Marley, Gloucestershire, in 1875 and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery in London on 30 May 1893. Promoted Corporal on 10 February 1899, he served with ‘U’ Battery in South Africa during the Boer War from 21 December 1899 to 5 December 1901, sometime being attached to the 14 pounder Maxims, and was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Sannah’s Post on 31 March 1900. For his services in South Africa during the Boer War he was promoted Sergeant on 5 September 1900; was Mentioned in Lord Roberts’ Despatch (London Gazette 10 September 1901); and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry at Blakfontein. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 1 April 1902, and was discharged on 29 May 1905, after 12 years’ service.

Sold for a hammer price of £1,900. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £2,447. R48,800. Au$4,480. Can$4,030. US$3,160

Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM VR, with Second Award Bar (2208 Serjt: W. G. Hudson. 1st Devon: Regt.);
IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (2208 Sergt. W. G. Hudson. 1st Bn. Devon: Regt.);
QSA (3) Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (2208 Sgt. W. G. Hudson, Devon: Regt.);
KSA (2) (2208 Clr-Serjt: W. G. Hudson. Devon: Regt.);
BWM and VM with MID oak leaves (Capt. W. G. Hudson.);
Coronation 1911 (2208 Sergt. Mjr. W. G. Hudson 6th Bn. Devon Regt.) privately engraved naming;
Army LS&GC EdVII (2208 C. Sjt: W. G. Hudson. Devon Regt.)

Provenance: Spink, July 2010.

DCM LG 27 September 1901.

DCM Second Award Bar LG 20 October 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and resource in getting up ammunition and supplies under heavy fire during an action.’
Annotated Gazette states ‘Es Sinn 8.3.16’.

MID LG 10 September 1901; 10 October 1916; 27 August 1918; and 5 June 1919.

William George Hudson, was born at Karachi, India (now Pakistan) on 31 May 1870, enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment in November 1888 and served with the Regiment in Egypt until the end of 1892, being promoted to Corporal in December of that year. He arrived in India in January 1893, was promoted to Sergeant in September 1895, and served with the North West Frontier Force in Tirah, July 1897. He served with the Regiment in South Africa from September 1899 to January 1902, and was present at the Defence of Ladysmith, operations in Natal, including the action at Elandslaagte, 21 October 1899, and operations in the Transvaal, including the action at Belfast, 26-27 August 1900 (awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Mentioned in Despatches). He was posted to the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, in April 1904, and received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in November 1906.

Hudson served with the 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment during the Great War in the Mesopotamia Theatre from 5 January 1916 to 11 November 1918, being thrice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded a Bar to his DCM for the period in which the Battalion was part of the 36th Brigade involved in the unsuccessful attack on the Dujaila redoubt, 8-9 March 1916, as part of the efforts to break the siege of Kut, in which the Brigade suffered 24 per cent casualties. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 13 June 1916; appointed Adjutant, 24 August 1916; returned with the unit to India, 3 April 1919, demobilized back in England, 5 November 1919; Captain, 6th Devonshire Regiment Territorial Army Reserve, 26 June 1920; appointed Officer-Commanding Barnstaple Depot, 1920; retired in May 1927, after 38 years’ service. He combined these duties with a post as Physical Education Instructor at Barnstaple Boys’ Grammar School before finally severing his links with the Regiment to become a publican. In the 1930s he was ‘mine host’ at the “Golden Fleece” in Gloucester. Captain Hudson died in Gloucester in 1937.

Picture courtesy of eBay

Described as:

Charles Thomas Frederick Lewis Ewart
Egypt medal bar Nile 2505 Pte C Ewart 5th Lrs
QVLS& GC medal 3253 Sq S Maj CT FL Ewart 12th Lancers
QSA 3 bars [CC, Tr, Witt] 3253 RSM CTFL Ewart 7th co 4th Btn Imp Yeo

Copy photo of Ewart (. Not named) taken during the Boer War with the Leic Yeo
Also entitled to a DCM LG 27/9/1901,27359,page 6306
12th Lancers att 4 th Btn,7th co Imp Yeo
He was born Nottingham 26/2/1863
Died Leicester 30/4/1909
1881 census ,102 Kent Rd Grimsby
John Ewart age 46,Surgeon
Charles Ewart age 16
1891 census Cavalry Barracks, 12th Lancers,Hume
Charles Thomas Frederick Lewis age 28 TSM
He was discharged from the 9 th Lancers 25/2/1882
Enlisted in 5th Lancers 16/2/1882
Joined 12 th Lancers
PSI Leicestershire Yeomanry
When the Boer War broke out he went out as a 12th Lancers PSI
Became the RSM during the Boer War
He married Elizabeth Muddimer in Leicester in 1908
And was living 48 Union St as RSM Leic Yeomanry at the time of his death in 1909
Was a Freemason in Howe& Charnwood lodge 1904
His brother George Edward Pelham Ewart was drowned at sea ( age 38)while serving in the Mercantile Marine Reserve as a STD
Was serving on the MMR HMS vessel Viknor when the ship did not return from off the Irish Sea 13/1915

Starting price £995

Pictures courtesy of Spink

DCM VR (C.Sgt F. Kingsley, 2nd W. York Regi);
QSA (5) Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (1957 Col Sejt F. Kingsly, W. York: Regi);
KSA (2) (1957 Serjt.-Maj: F. Kingsley. W. York: Regi)



DCM London Gazette 19 April 1901, the recommendation by Colonel F. W. Kitchener, 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment states:

'Colour-Sergeant Kingsley, when his company was unexpectedly caught by a very heavy cross fire which wounded both his Officers, showed coolness and intelligence in withdrawing his men steadily to cover, and gallantry in bringing his Captain under cover when mortally wounded. His case is an exceptional one, worthy of recommendation for the medal for distinguished conduct.'

The Queen's Scarves

A replica of one of the eight handmade scarves knitted by Queen Victoria in the last months of her life is included with the Lot. It is a testament to Victoria's regard and understanding for the soldiers of her Army that she worked to create these gifts for them while both frail and short sighted. Victoria famously attempted to connect with her soldiers in a manner that other monarchs had not yet attempted, often awarding medals personally and creating new awards such as the Victoria Cross.

These scarves, along with the tins of chocolate sent out in 1899, represent a new and uniquely personal form of attachment between Victoria and her army. Decorated with her royal cypher, VRI, they were intended as a reward for the devotion and bravery her troops had shown her. The selection for whom should receive this accolade was left to the regular troops rather than their officers. Doubtless Victoria understood that it was more important to the soldiers that they be acknowledged by their peers than their generals. It is known that four were awarded to dominion troops, with the four British Army recipients besides Kingsley being:

Quartermaster-Sergeant Henry George Clay, D.C.M., 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.
Colour-Sergeant William Colclough, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (Medals & scarf sold in these rooms in 2017, Hammer Price £13,000).
Colour-Sergeant Thomas Ferrett, D.C.M., 2nd Battalio, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment - this scarf probably lost in the fire at Clandon Park.

Frank Kingsley was born at Stamford Hill, London, in 1865. Enlisted on 26 August 1887 listing his previous occupation as groom. Having served at home for a year he was posted to India, serving there from 1888-96. While on this posting Kingsley was promoted Corporal on 8 December 1890, Lance-Sergeant on 23 September 1892 and Sergeant 5 November 1892. Upon extending his service to 12 years on 5 June 1894 he was promoted Colour-Sergeant on 24 October 1894. Returning home in 1896 he re-engaged in August 1899 for service in the Second Boer War.

He entered the war in South Africa on 20 October 1899 with the 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. The Regiment was soon engaged in the battle of Willow Grange on 22 November near Estcourt. They continued to take part in the fighting around Ladysmith throughout early 1900 being engaged at the battle of Spion Kop. It was here that Kingsley won his D.C.M. on the eastern slope of Tabanyama on 21 January 1900. One company of the West Yorkshire's became isolated and had to survive till nightfall before being able to re-join their unit. During the afternoon of the 21 January Captain Charles Ryall was mortally wounded and carried to cover and great personal risk by Kingsley.

The Regiment were again heavily engaged at Tugela Heights with one officer, Captain Conwyn Mansel-Jones, was awarded the Victoria Cross. As a unit they were most distinguished in the taking of Railway Hill on 27 February 1900. After the relief of Ladysmith the Battalion found itself less involved in the fighting, although still engaged at Alleman's Nek, during the battle of Laing's Nek. In while August the regiment was forming part of Smith-Dorrien's Brigade Kingsley was awarded his Queens Scarf. A letter written by Malcom Riall, a member of the West Yorkshire Regiment who kept detailed records of the campaign noted:

'Some time ago her Gracious Majesty sent out to her grandson, Prince Christian Victor...4 woollen mufflers, knitted by herself with her initials worked small in one corner and these were to be given to 4 NCOs or men. The Prince kindly gave one to each Regiment of the 2nd Brigade. Today the CO gave away one to one of our Colour Sergeants, C/Sgt Kingsley by name, and a fine fellow. He is naturally very proud of himself. I took a photo of him today.'

A copy of his photograph of Kingsley wearing the scarf is included in the lot as is a second group photo in which he features. The Battalion continued to serve during the guerrilla face of the war being heavily engaged only once more during an action at Bothwell in which another Victoria Cross was earned by Sergeant Traynor.

Kingsley remained in South Africa being promoted Sergeant-Major on 1 May 1902, he was transferred home on 2 June 1904 where he served until 1906. Discharged at his own request on 7 September 1906 at Holywood, Belfast after eighteen years of service. He became an in-pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, dying there on 26 October 1952.

Sold together with copied research and the aforementioned replica of the Queen's scarf.

The DCM* to Captain W G Hudson sold yesterday for a hammer price of £10,000. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £12,880. R256,700. Au$23,560. Can$21,200. US$16,620

The DCM to Colour Sergeant F Kingsley sold yesterday for a hammer price of £6,000. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £7,440. R149,000. Au$13,680. Can$12,310. US$9,650