Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, V.R.I. cypher, reverse inscribed, ‘Lieut. Col. David Harris, Kimberley Rifles’, hallmarks for Birmingham 1894, lacking brooch bar, good very fine £200-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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David Harris was born in the City of London on 12 July 1852 and educated at Coxford’s College, City of London. In 1871, at the age of 19, he emigrated to South Africa. Making his way to the ‘diamond fields’, he invested in a claim in the Dutoitspan Mine, which he worked with moderate success. Meanwhile he learned the business of diamond buying and got employment as a buyer; eventually setting up on his own account. He later acquired new claims and became an associate of Cecil John Rhodes, and in 1897 was made a director of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. He was subsequently Chairman of De Beers, and other mining companies, retiring in 1931

Harris was elected a member for Kimberley in the Cape Legislative Assembly in 1897, and was re-elected in 1904. He retained his seat at the Union in 1910, and retired in 1929 as the longest serving member

Harris was a keen and long serving Volunteer soldier. In 1876 he answered a call for volunteers for the 9th Kaffir War. He became a Sergeant in the Dutoitspan Hussars and went on active service with them. He became Paymaster and Quartermaster in the Diamond Fields Horse in 1877, and Lieutenant in 1878. He served as Adjutant under Sir Charles Warren. He was mentioned in despatches and was awarded the South Africa Medal 1877-79 with a clasp for the Gaika-Gealeka campaign. He subsequently took part in the Griqualand West campaign of 1878. On 13 August 1888, Captain Harris became the Commanding Officer of the Victoria Rifles, until he resigned in October 1890. In December 1890 he became Commanding Officer with the rank of Major, of the Kimberley Rifles. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1894 and remained C.O. until December 1895.

In January 1896 he became commander of the Griqualand West Brigade. He took part in the supression of the Bechuanaland rebellion of 1896-97, for which he was awarded the Cape of Good Hope general Service Medal with one clasp. Lieutenant-Colonel Harris was awarded the V.D., this notified in the Cape of Good Hope Govt. Gazette of 8 December 1896. Harris took part in the Boer War 1899-1902 when he served in the Kimberley Town Guard. For his services he was mentioned in Lord Robert’s despatch (London Gazette 19 April 1901), was appointed a C.M.G. (1900), and was awarded the Queen’s medal with one clasp and the King’s medal with two. On 1 January 1903 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Kimberley Regiment and remained such until his death. Colonel Harris was appointed a K.C.M.G. in the Coronation Honours of 1911. Coming to England in 1911, he stayed at the Carlton Hotel. On 11 August 1911 there was a serious fire in which he only just escaped with his life but one in which most of his medals were lost. The above medal was one that survived the inferno. In later life. Harris wrote his autobiography, Pioneer, Soldier and Politician, published in 1931. He died on 23 September 1942. Sold with a quantity of research, including copied photographs; also the Diamond Fields Advertiser, Centenary Supplement, 23 September 1976.