Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Boer War D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Warre, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar, slight enamel damage; India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Hazara 1891, Samana 1891 (Lieut., 1st Bn. K.R. Rif. C.); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Capt., 1st Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of ladysmith, Transvaal, Orange Free State (Capt., D.S.O., K.R.R.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Capt., D.S.O., K.R.R.C.); 1914 Star (Major, K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.), mounted court style for wear, minor contact marks, good very fine (8) £2800-3200

Henry Charles Warre was born on 22 October 1866, the eldest son of the Rev. Edmund Warre, D.D., C.B., C.V.O., Honorary Chaplain to the King. Educated at Eton, he entered the King’s Royal Rifle Corps as a Lieutenant in October 1887. He served in the Hazara Expedition 1891 (medal and clasp) and the Miranzai Expedition 1891 (clasp) and was promoted to Captain in January 1895. He then served in the Chitral Relief Force 1895 (medal and clasp). Captain Warre served in the Second Boer War on the staff as Brigade Major under Colonel Cooper (G.O.C. Heidelberg District) and also in the same capacity to Colonel Pulteney’s Column, Eastern Transvaal. He was present at the relief of Ladysmith, including the actions at Colenso, Spion Kop, Vaal Kranz and Tugela Heights (Queen’s medal and five clasps and King’s medal with two), being three times mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 8 February and 10 September 1901; 18 July 1902) and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 27 September 1901). He was afterwards a Brigade Major in the Indian Army, 1903-05. Promoted to Major in December 1906, he was selected for the Staff College for the following year. He was appointed G.S.O.2 to the West Riding Division, Northern Command, 1908-12. In the Great War he first served with the 2nd Battalion K.R.R.C. and afterwards commanded the 1st Battalion from 4 November 1914 to the end of the First Battle of Ypres. He subsequently served on the General Staff, being four times mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 October 1914; 17 February 1915; 1 January 1916; 11 December 1917) and receiving the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, the rank being made substantive in 1916. Lieutenant-Colonel Warre was placed on Half Pay in 1921. In his retirement he worked with the Boy Scout Organisation and was for some time the Organisation Secretary at the Imperial Headquarters. He died on 23 September 1934.

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