Auction Catalogue

13 December 2007

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 944

.

13 December 2007

Hammer Price:
£3,200

A good Boer War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant-Major J. H. Welsh, Imperial Yeomanry, late 10th Hussars

Distinguished Conduct Medal
, V.R. (7000 Serjt.-Maj. J. H. Welsh, 12 Imp. Yeo.); Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (1331 Corpl., 10th Rl. Hussars); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (R. S. Major, 44th Coy. 12th Impl. Yeo.), single initial ‘J.’; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7000 R. Serjt. Maj., I.Y.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (1331 Sergt., 10th Hussars), single initial ‘J.’, the second with minor official correction to surname, contact marks, edge bruising and polished, otherwise good fine or better (5) £2000-2500

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901 (Army Order 15/02).

James Henry Welsh was born in Leamington, Warwickshire and enlisted in the 10th Hussars in June 1871, aged 20 years. Having served in the East Indies 1873-75, he was advanced to Corporal in September 1878 and was re-embarked for India in the same year, and was subsequently employed with his regiment in the Second Afghan War. Welsh returned to the U.K. in May 1881, was advanced to Sergeant in the following year, and transferred to the Permanent Staff of the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars in September 1884. Having then been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1889, and gained further promotion to Troop Sergeant-Major, he was discharged in March 1893.

Soon after the advent of hostilities in South Africa, Welsh - aged 47 years - attested for the Imperial Yeomanry, and was attached to the 44th Company, 12th Battalion on his arrival in South Africa in February 1900. Actively engaged in that theatre of war until returning home in August 1902, he was mentioned in despatches by Lord Roberts and awarded the D.C.M. At the time of his discharge, he was serving as a Sergeant-Major in the 29th Company, 9th Battalion.