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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DSO VR;
SAGS (1) 1877-8 (Lieut. G. C. Palmes. 1-24th Foot.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (Major G. C. Palmes, D.S.O., S.W: Bord.);
KSA (2) (Maj. G. C. Palmes. D.S.O. S. Wales Brd.)

George Champney Palmes was born on 9 February 1857, third son of the Venerable James Palmes, D.D. He entered the Army on 10 September 1875, as 2nd Lieutenant, 24th Foot, becoming Lieutenant on 10 September 1877. He served in the South African War of 1877-79, taking part in the Kaffir campaign, operations against the Galekas and the battle of Quintana. Here, 'G' Company, along with “D” Company bore a conspicuous part at the battle of Quintana, being the only two Imperial Companies present. During the Zulu War of 1879, Palmes was at Helpmekaar at the time of Isandhlwana, his company having been ordered to take over from “B” Company 1-24th at Rorke’s Drift several days prior to the battle but due to some miscommunication they did not depart until 22nd January. Now joined by Captain Upcher's “D”Company, “G” Company moved to Roke’s Drift but, before reaching that place, met Major Spalding who informed them that Rorke’s Drift had been taken by the enemy. Fires could be clearly seen at the Drift and it was decided the wise option would be to return to Helpmekaar. Upon their return they were greeted by a small number of fugitives from Isandhlwana and therefore prepared for the defence of Helpmekaar against an attack they were sure would follow. The attack never happened and they were relieved within a few days. During the rest of the war Palmes and “G” Company served at various bases on the lines of communication. Although Lieutenant Palmes served with his Regiment during the Zulu War of 1879, he did not cross the border into Zululand and like many others of the 1-24th who took part in the war but did not cross the border, received the medal with the 1877-8 clasp.

Palmes was promoted to Captain on 9 June 1882, and became Major on 9 June 1892; he was Adjutant, Volunteers, 1 October 1891 to 30 September 1895. He served in the South African War 1899-1902, was Commandant of Klerksdorp, and took part in operations in Orange Free State, February-May 1900, including actions at Karee Siding, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River. Operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including the action near Johannesburg, and West of Pretoria, August to 29 November 1900. Operations in the Orange River Colony, June to August 1900. Operations in the Transvaal, 30 November 1900 to May 1902.

He was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 10 September 1901, and created a companion of the Distinguished Service Order London Gazette 27 September 1901, ‘in recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’ The insignia were sent to Lord Kitchener in South Africa and were presented by Brigadier-General Barber at Klerksdorp on 16 March 1902. Major Palmes retired on 23 July 1902 and died on 22 October 1946.

Estimated at £8,000 to £10,000. Did not attract any bidders.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DSO VR;
Egypt, dated (3) Alexandria 11th July, El-Teb_Tamaai, Suakin 1884 (Lieut: F. White. R.M.L.I. H.M.S. “Temeraire”;
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Major F. White. R.M.L.I.);
KSA (2) (Lt. Col. F. White. D.S.O. R.M.L.I.);
1914-15 Star (Bt. Col. F. White. D.S.O.);
British War and Victory Medals (Bt. Col. F. White.);
Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class breast badge, silver gold and enamels;
Khedive's Star, dated 1882,

Noonan;s state four DSOs were awarded to the Royal Marines for the Boer War.

DSO London Gazette 27 September 1901.

Frederick White was born on 14 October 1861, the son of the late Major George White, RMLI, and was himself commissioned in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in February 1879.

He subsequently served in the Egyptian Expedition of 1882, taking part in the bombardment of Alexandria, the occupation of the lines of the town, and the occupation of Port Said.

White again saw active service in the Sudan in 1884 when he was present at the battles of El-Teb and Tamaai, and the relief of Tokar, for which services he received the Order of Medjidie and was also mentioned in Colonel Tuson’s despatch for El-Teb:

‘Lieutenant White was personally ordered by the Major-General Commanding to charge the left redoubt of the enemy’s position at Teb with his company. He rushed to the front, when two of the enemy sprang on him, one on each side. He cut one man down twice with his sword, when Private Birtwhistle rushed to his assistance and forced his bayonet right through the black, breaking it short off. The black then severely wounded Private Birtwhistle, who clubbed his musket and brained him. The other black was stopped attacking Lieutenant White by Private F. Yerbury, who caught the man by the hair of his head, spinning him round and round so that he could not use his assegai, when Sergeant-Major Hirst rushed to the front and despatched him. Those four were also in a dangerous position in front of the attack at the time, as the fire from the side of the square was still continued on each side of them.’

Advanced to Captain in August 1888 and to Major in September 1896, White served on the Staff of the Royal Marines from June 1896 to February 1899, prior to his D.S.O. winning exploits in the Boer War.

During that conflict he acted as a Special Service Officer from February 1900 until April 1902, his assorted appointments including those of Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at the Headquarters in Cape Town, Railway Staff Officer at Sterkstroom, Commandant at Bethulie Bridges, and a District Command under the Military Governor of Orange River Colony.

Present in operations in the Orange River Colony, including the action at Wittebergen, he was mentioned in the despatches (London Gazette 19 September 1901, refers). He received the Queen’s Medal with the clasps ‘Cape Colony’ and ‘Wittebergen’, the latter being one of only seven issued to Royal Marine personnel, three of them to officers of which White was the most senior; his King’s Medal with two clasps was one of just 11 awarded to the Royal Marines.

But it was for his gallant defence of Ladybrand that he was awarded the DSO, an action admiringly described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Great Boer War: ‘On 2 September another commando of Free State Boers under Fourie emerged from the mountain country on the Basuto border and fell upon Ladybrand, which was held by a feeble garrison consisting of one company of the Worcester Regiment and 43 men of the Wiltshire Yeomanry under the overall command of Major F. White. The Boers, who had several guns with them, appear to have been the same force which had been repulsed at Winburg. Major White, a gallant Royal Marine, whose fighting qualities do not seem to have deteriorated with his distance from salt water, had arranged his defences upon a hill, after the Wepener model, and held his own most stoutly. So great was the disparity of the forces employed that for days acute anxiety was felt by the General Staff lest another of those humiliating surrenders should interrupt the record of victories and encourage the Boers to further resistance. The Boer attack was beaten back each time by the constancy of the British defence. The thin line of 150 soldiers, covering a mile and a half of ground, endured a heavy shell and rifle fire with unshaken resolution, repulsed every attempt of the burghers and held the flag flying until relieved three days later by the forces under Generals White and Hamilton.’

Another account of White’ stoic defence of Ladybrand appears in The Times History of the War in South Africa 1900-1902: ‘This little post was held by 80 men of the 1st Worcester Regiment, 43 Wiltshire Yeomanry, and 30 local volunteers, the whole under the command of Major F. White, R.M.L.I. On the evening of September 1st, a patrol came in with a report of the approach of the enemy from Modderpoort, and on the 2nd, at 7.30 a.m., a letter, signed by Commandant Fourie, was sent in asking for the immediate surrender of the garrison. White, having replied that if Fourie wanted the garrison he had better come and take it, posted the whole of his slender force on an intrenched hill to the south-west of the town. Fourie, with 800 men, opened shell and rifle fire, worked up to the post, and surrounded it on all sides. For three days and nights, however, the little garrison held firm. Of the Worcesters, Lieutenants Dorman and Moss and Corporal Kirkham, and of the Yeomanry Lieutenant Henderson and Sergeant-Major Lyford deserve special mention in this very fine defence, which Major White directed with marked resolution and ability. The town was relieved by Bruce Hamilton on the morning of September 5th.’

White was awarded the DSO, in addition to being mentioned in Lord Robert’s despatch of 4 September 1901.

Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1903 and awarded the Brevet of Colonel in April 1906, he retired in the rank of Colonel in April 1909. Recalled for service on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he served as a Draft Conducting Officer from 1915-19.

The Colonel died at his home at St John’s Park, Blackheath in December 1924.

Pictures courtesy of Noonan's

DSO VR;
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieutenant N. Patterson. R.F.A.)

DSO London Gazette 26 June 1902: ‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

Norman Patterson was born at Long Benton, Northumberland, in 1879, the son of the Reverend Patterson, and was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. He won many prizes for athletics at Cambridge, distinguished himself in Association Football, and received his commission as an University Candidate. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery as a Second Lieutenant on 21 May 1900 and served in South Africa during the Boer War under Lord Methuen, taking part in operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony from July 1901 to 31 May 1902.

Patterson distinguished himself in the action at Klerksdorp on 25 February 1902, ‘pluckily directing the fire of the Artillery’ during the Boer assault, before being captured and taken prisoner of war. The Times History of the War states:
‘Towards evening on the 24th February 1902, Anderson’s convoy, after two days of uneventful marching, crossed the Yzer Spruit and camped on the farm lands of Elandslaagte, thirteen miles from Klerksdorp. The next day’s march was to be the last, and so little was danger dreamt of that Paget’s Horse, 80 strong, were permitted to ride into Klerksdorp that same evening. At 4.30 on the following morning, while it was still pitch dark, the convoy resumed its march, with a company of infantry on either flank, an advanced guard of Yeomanry supported by the guns and a company of infantry, and a rearguard of similar composition but without artillery. About half-an-hour after starting, at a point where the ground first begins to fall towards the Jagd Spruit, the advanced guard approached a dark expanse of bush.

Suddenly, the border of this thicket, scarcely twenty yards distant, was outlined in flame, and Liebenberg’s bullets swept through the troops and transport. A few minutes later Kemp attacked the centre and Celliers the rearguard, which was still near the camping-ground. Disaster, under the circumstances, was scarcely avoidable; yet all these first assaults were steadily repulsed. Under the fire of the artillery, pluckily directed by Lieutenant Patterson, Liebenberg's men recoiled into their scrub; Kemp's attack flickered out; Celliers alone hung like a bulldog on the rearguard. In the meantime, the wagons, which had stampeded to the rear at the first alarm, were rallied by Lieutenant Turner and parked, by Anderson's orders, near the front of the column in partially sheltered ground.

Daylight was strengthening, when Kemp charged right up to the convoy, but was again driven off. There was a partial lull, in which Anderson ordered the convoy to advance supported by the rest of the column. It would have been wiser, perhaps, to have concentrated round the wagons and waited ; for every movement of the panic-stricken convoy was fraught with peril. In advancing to the Jagd Spruit the drivers got out of control, threw some of the troops into confusion, and finally lashed their teams pell-mell down the slope. A sharp declivity bordered the drift; the first wagon stumbled and stuck others followed suit, and then the whole mass collapsed into irremediable confusion. The spectacle heartened the Boers. De la Rey ordered a general charge on horseback, with fire from the saddle. The rearguard, under Captain A L Phillips, which hitherto had stood unflinchingly under heavy losses, gave way before overwhelming odds; the guns and other troops were ridden down, and although many brave groups of men fought to their last cartridge, the Boer victory was assured.

Sunrise shone upon a complete disaster. Save a few men who escaped to Klerksdorp, the whole force, with its artillery and material, was in De la Eey's hands. Five officers and 48 men were killed; 6 officers and 124 men wounded; the rest were prisoners.’

Promoted Lieutenant on 16 April 1902, for his services in South Africa Patterson was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 17 June 1902); received the Queen's Medal with five clasps; and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, most certainly for his gallantry at Klerksdorp. He was invested with his DSO by H.M. King Edward VII on 24 October 1902. Subsequently serving in India for several years, he passed the highest examinations for the Staff in India, spoke Hindustani fluently, and was for some time Instructor in Signalling.



He died at Bareilly, India, on 2 May 1909, from the effects of injuries caused by an accident to his horse.

The 'Ladybrand' DSO group to Bt Col F White sold for a hammer price of GBP 7,000. Total GBP 9,016. R 205,020. AUD 17,860. NZD 19,680. CAD 16,220. USD 11,240. EUR 10,300.

The DSO to Lt Patterson sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,700. Total GBP 2,190. R 49,510. AUD 4,310. NZD 4,740. CAD 3,920. USD 2,730. EUR 2,500.

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO VR;
Jubilee 1897, silver, unnamed as issued;
QSA (1) Cape Colony (Capt. & Adjt. M. A. Foster, D.S.O., Som. L.I.), unit officially corrected to include post-nominals;
KSA (2) (Maj. & Adjt. M. A. Foster. D.S.O., Som. L.I.)

DSO London Gazette 27 September 1901.

MID London Gazette 10 September 1901, 29 July 1902.

Montagu Amos Foster was born on 19 March 1861, the son of William Foster of Wilbury Road, Brighton, Sussex. Foster was privately educated and became a notable linguist over the course of his life. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Second East Norfolk (Militia) on 10 December 1879, he was gazetted to a regular commission with the Somerset Light Infantry on 28 January 1882, with the rank of Lieutenant. Promoted Captain in September 1887, he served as an Adjutant in the Militia from May 1899 until February 1904.

Foster also returned to the Militia, serving as Captain and Adjutant with the 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. It was with this role that he appears upon the roll for the Jubilee Medal. Later entering the Boer War, with the Battalion sailing on the Kildonan Castle in Spring 1900, upon arrival they were split up with the majority of the unit divided along the lines of communication between East London and Queenstown, Cape Colony, while some officers were detached to the Staff. Foster's role would likely have been with one of the mobile columns that operated in the region hunting down the Boer Commandos - a role for which he was further 'mentioned' twice on 10 September 1901 and 29 July 1902.

Foster certainly came home to receive his DSO in an investiture on 29 October 1901, however, he returned to South Africa, being promoted Major in April 1902 and is listed as stationed there until 13 May. Seeing further service in the East Indies between 1902 and April 1904, Foster returned to Britain on 16 April and served at home until March 1909 when he was placed upon the retired list. Foster had married Ida Frances, the daughter of Brigadier-General W. G. Thompson, CMG, DSO and had two children with her, Mary and Cecil William Foster.

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO VR;
IGS 1895 (2) Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Lieutt. G. E. Tuson.16th Lcrs.);
QSA (5) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Driefontein (Capt. G. E. Tuson, D.S.O., 16 Lcrs.);
KSA (2) (Capt. G. E. Tuson. D.S.O. 16/Lcrs.);
1914-15 Star (Major G. E. Tuson. D.S.O. 16/Lrs.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (Col. G. E. Tuson.)

DSO London Gazette 27 September 1901. Spink say 3 DSOs awarded to the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers.

MID London Gazette 10 September 1901 & 20 May 1918.

George Edward Tuson was born at Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia on 29 June 1871. His father, George Tuson, was a well-known banker and industrialist in Queensland and it is understood that young Tuson was educated privately in this period. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 16th Lancers in October 1890, being advanced Lieutenant on 31 July 1894, and served on the North-West Frontier of India, 1897-98 (Tochi), as Regimental Commandant and Transport Officer from 9 July-November 1897. He was in receipt of a scarce Medal and 2 clasps named to the unit, for they were not present in strength.

Tuson was duly promoted Captain on 9 October 1899 and served with distinction during the Boer War. He shared in the advance on Kimberley, the Relief of Kimberley - being wounded in action at Klip Drift on Valentine's Day 1900 - and operations in the Orange Free State, February-May 1900. He was present in the operations at Paardeberg (17-26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Karee Siding, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 & 12 June); operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, August-September 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, July to 29 November 1900), including actions at Bethlehem (7 July) and Wittebergen (1-20 July); operations in Orange River Colony 30 November 1900 to February 1901, and March to June 1901; operations in Cape Colony, February and March 1901, and June 1901.

Tuson was promoted Major in May 1903 and retired in June 1909. With the outbreak of the Great War, he was swiftly recalled to his old Regiment and served with them in France as a Major from 17 July 1915, being advanced Colonel on the Staff and adding another 'mention' for good measure before War's end.

Having been married to Isabel Bright-Williams at Marylebone in September 1912, they had issue of a daughter, born July 1913, and son. The family settled in East Africa at Upper Narossura, Eldama Ravine, Kenya and were heavily involved in farming there. The Colonel was President of the Ravine Farmers' Association, Vice President of the East Africa Turf Club, Member of the Rift Valley Sports Club. He died at Nairobi on 9 December 1935.

Sold together with a fine archive of original material including:

i)
Warrant for the DSO, dated 26 September 1901, together with MID Certificate, dated 7 April 1918.

ii)
Finely rebound photograph album, with a series of large-format images of the 16th Lancers, scenes of India, polo etc.

iii)
Small-format photograph album covering the Boer War, binding loose, water damaged in places but a valuable unpublished resource.

iv)
A number of original photographs and documents, together with a cloth bound book of research.