Four: Major H. J. Vincent, Royal Field Artillery, late 1st Dragoon Guards

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, the Transvaal clasp a tailor’s copy, with unofficial fixings below and above this clasp (4876 Pte H. Vincent, 1st. Dgn: Gds.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. J. Vincent. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Major H. J. Vincent.) very fine or better (4) £240-280

Harold James Vincent was educated at Emanuel School, Wandsworth Common, and attested for the 1st Dragoon Guards on 9 July 1900, serving with them in South Africa during the Boer War. He was discharged in 1912, and took up employment as a Mining Engineer in Bongwelli, Nigeria. On the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted in the West Kent Yeomanry on 7 September 1914, was promoted Corporal on 26 September 1914, and Sergeant on 1 October 1914. On 31 December 1914 he was discharged to a commission in the Royal Field Artillery. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 September 1915 with ‘A’ and ‘B’ Batteries, 111th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, being promoted Lieutenant on 8 April 1915 and Captain on 31 January 1916. He was made acting Major in charge of a Battery, 2 January 1917 to 3 October 1917, and was admitted to No.3 Casualty Clearing Station with exhaustion on 26 July 1917. On 26 November 1917 he was posted to the 25th Division Artillery to command ‘B’ Battery, 112th Brigade Royal Field Artillery and on 27 and 31 May 1918 he was gassed (mustard and phosgene gasses). Admitted to No.75 Field Ambulance he was invalided home from No.8 General Hospital, Rouen, on 11 June 1918 suffering from gas poisoning and disordered action of the heart. He was promoted Major on 1 October 1918 whilst employed with the Ministry of Munitions as Manager, No. 14 Filling Factory, Central Stores, Hereford, and relinquished his commission on 5 July 1919 retaining the rank of Major. In this latter post, civil proceedings for larceny and embezzlement were undertaken by the Chief Constable, Herefordshire Constabulary. In a three day trial, Major Vincent was accused of selling off defunct stock and equipment at prices above those set by the Government. Major Vincent was acquitted on 10 November 1920, but cautioned for not behaving in the manner of a gentleman, having bought the items at the Government rate and later sold them on at a higher price.
Post-war, Major Vincent was employed by a number of oil and engineering companies in Egypt and Venezuela, and in the 1930’s was working in the Proof and Experimental Establishment, Woolwich, and living in Sydenham.