Major-General L. A. E. Price-Davies, V.C., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Note Book, bearing the signature, ‘L. Price-Davies, Kings Royal Rifles’, with diary entries in ink written by Price-Davies when in India, between the dates 3 June and 15 August 1899, some pages loose; Photograph Album, of the recipient, containing photographs of the recipient (2); family and friends; at sea, 1898; South Africa 1898-99; India 1899; Malta, 1903; Newspaper Cuttings, in an album, relating to the Boer War and the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in particular, some pages loose, fairly good and better condition (3) £200-300

V.C. London Gazette 29 November 1901. ‘Lieut., D.S.O., King’s Royal Rifle Corps’.

‘At Blood River Poort, on the 17th September, 1901, when the Boers had overwhelmed the right of the British Column, and some 400 of them were galloping round the flank and rear of the guns, riding up to the drivers (who were trying to get the guns away) and calling upon them to surrender, Lieutenant Price Davies, hearing an order to fire upon the charging Boers, at once drew his revolver and dashed in among them, firing at them in a most gallant and deperate attempt to rescue the guns. He was immediately shot and knocked off his horse, but was not mortally wounded, although he had ridden to what seemed to be almost certain death without a moments hesitation’.

Llewelyn Alberic Emilius Price-Davies was born on 30 June 1878 and educated at Marlborough and Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the K.R.R.C. on 23 December 1898, serving initially in India. Leaving for South Africa in September 1899, he served with the Mounted Infantry. He was awarded the D.S.O. (London Gazette 19 April 1901) and the V.C. (above), being wounded in that action, and again more seriously at Ermelo, Transvaal on 26 January 1902. At the start of the Great War he was G.S.O.3 of the 2nd Division and was later commander of 113, 214 and 8 Infantry Brigades. For his wartime services he was awarded the C.M.G., mentioned in despatches and awarded the brevets of Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel. He served as A.D.C. to the King, 1920-30, and in 1927 was awarded the C.B. Placed on Retired Pay in 1930 with the rank of Major-General, he served in the Hon Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, 1933-48 and was Battalion Commander of the Upper Thames Patrol (Home Guard), 1940-45. Major-General Price-Davies died on 26 December 1965