A fine Great War East Africa operations M.C. group of nine awarded to Hon. Major R. E. Seymour, late Rhodesia Regiment and Belfield’s Scouts, who was decorated for his bravery as an Intelligence Agent in the East African Intelligence Department - ‘he has himself accounted for 16 of the enemy during various patrols’

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Pte. R. E. Seymour, 1st Rhodn. Rgt.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. R. E. Seymour); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, generally good very fine (9) £1600-1800

M.C. London Gazette 26 March 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has repeatedly performed marked acts of courage and initiative, and he has on two occasions attacked and routed enemy patrols, though greatly outnumbered. Within the last two months he has himself accounted for sixteen of the enemy during various patrol encounters, and has burned large quantities of enemy supplies, his work being magnificent throughout.’

Rothesay Egerton Seymour, who was born in 1892, enlisted in the 1st Rhodesia Regiment in November 1914 and quickly saw action in German South-West Africa. Demobilised in July 1915, he next joined Belfield’s Scouts, in which capacity he served in German East Africa from October 1915. Having then joined the Intelligence Department of East Africa Force as a Field Agent under Lieutenant-General Sir J. L. Van Deventer, K.C.B., he was mentioned in despatches ‘for distinguished services during the operations from 30 May to December 1917’ (despatch dated 21 January 1918, refers).

As verified in an accompanying article - Out on a Limb - The Road Through Tunduru - one of the actions for which Seymour was awarded his M.C. took place west of Ngomano in mid-September 1917, when he routed an enemy patrol reputedly comprising some of von Lettow’s favourite troops. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in February 1918 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant before the War’s end.

Relinquishing his commission at the end of 1918, Seymour appears to have settled in Cape Town, but by the 1930s he was serving as a District Officer in Tanganyika Territory, in which office he was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 (the official roll refers).

In March 1941, Seymour was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the African Colonial Forces Section, and later served in the Army Cadet Force. He was finally discharged with the honorary rank of Major in September 1948; sold with a large file of copied research, including extracts from letters written by Jack McMichael, also a member of the 1st Rhodesia Regiment and Belfield’s Scouts, in which the recipient is mentioned.