Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Brevet Major A. R. Finlay, Bedfordshire Regiment, dangerously wounded in the action near Reitz, 6 June 1901

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1894-95 (Lieut., Bedfordshire Regt.), unit renamed; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Lieut., 1st Bn. Bedford Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Capt., Bedford Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Maj., Bedfd. Rgt.), mounted as worn, minor contact marks, very fine and better (4) £800-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

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M.I.D. London Gazette 20 August 1901. ‘On the 6th June in a fight for a convoy near Reitz, by his courage and example prevented a desperate attack of the Boers from succeeding’.

Alexander Russell Finlay was born on 23 February 1867 and was commissioned from the Militia into the South Staffordshire Regiment on 8 December 1888. In January 1889 he was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment. He sailed for India in 1890 and was promoted to Lieutenant in November 1890. Selected for service in the Bannu Brigade in the Waziristan 1894-95 expedition, he was appointed Brigade Transport Officer. In the operations to relieve Chitral, he was present at the storming of the Malakand Pass near Khar and the subsequent descent into the Swat Valley. In October 1896, Finlay was advanced to Captain and transferred to the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, going with them to South Africa in 1899. Given command of the Bedfordshire Company of Mounted Infantry, he participated in operations in the Cape Colony, 1899-1900, including the action of Colesburg. In the Orange Free State, February-November 1900, including the action at Wittebergen. Then in the Transvaal, November-December 1900 and Orange Free State, March-June 1901. In the latter location, his unit formed part of the 6th Mounted Infantry Regiment. On 6 June, the unit under the command of Major Sladen spotted a Boer convoy of some 114 wagons. Sladen led a charge and captured the vehicles plus some 45 prisoners. Feeling vulnerable he sent off half his force to obtain reinforcements but while they were away, the Boers recovered and returned with a force commanded by De Wet and De la Rey intent on recovering both prisoners and wagons. This they did and Sladen’s command was hard pressed to maintain itself. After four hours a British relief force galloped to the rescue and, going on to the offensive again, wagons and prisoners were recovered. In the action the British lost 3 officers and 23 men killed and 24 officers and men wounded. Amongst the latter, and rated as ‘dangerously wounded’, was Captain Finlay. For his actions on that day, Finlay was mentioned in despatches. On 22 August 1902 he received the Brevet of Major. He was placed on Half Pay on 20 March 1903 and on Retired Pay on 20 March 1908. Major Finlay died in 1923. Sold with copied research.