Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Great War East Africa operations M.C. group of four awarded to Captain J. R. Wilson, 2nd South African Horse, late South African Constabulary, who was decorated for the gallant leadership of his squadron in an action in the Kidodi Valley in September 1916

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved, ‘Captain J. R. Wilson, 2nd S.A. Horse, East Africa - Sept. 1916’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (499 Tpr., S.A.C.); British War and Bi-lingual Victory Medals (Capt.), good very fine or better(4) £2200-2500

M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘Captain Wilson led his squadron with great skill and attacked and occupied a very important advanced position dominating “Red Ridge”, and held his position from the afternoon of the 6th till the afternoon of the 7th in spite of several enemy attacks and shelling. The success at this point had an important bearing upon the whole operation against “Red Hill” positions.’

John Robert Wilson was born in December 1878 and served in ‘A’ Division of the South African Constabulary in the Boer War, and was awarded the above described Queen’s Medal & clasps.

Appointed a Lieutenant in the 2nd South African Horse in December 1915, he arrived in German East Africa in January of the following year, in which theatre of war he remained actively employed until February 1917 and won his M.C. for bravery during operations in the Karodi Valley. Granted two months recuperative leave in March 1917, he was in fact demobilised back in Durban in the following month, and placed on the Reserve of Officers of the Union Defence Forces (Mounted Rifles Branch). Having then been placed on the Retired List in December 1938, he appears to have made an unsuccessful application for re-employment on the renewal of hostilities in the following year; sold with several original Great War period photographs, including scenes from the recipient’s time with the 2nd South African Horse.