Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Boer War medal to Lieutenant L. M. Oliver, 6th Iniskilling Dragoons, late East Kent Regiment, who was killed in action whilst leading a troop of his regiment in a gallant charge against Boer Commandos at Spytfontein in November 1901

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Lieut. L. M. Oliver, E. Kent Rgt.) toned, extremely fine £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brett Collection of Medals to The Buffs.

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Second Lieutenant L. M. Oliver, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, was killed in action near Heilbron on 30 November 1901. He was the only son of Mrs Oliver, of Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, was born in 1881, and educated privately. He first entered the 3rd Battalion of the Buffs (East Kent Regiment), February 1900, in which he served in South Africa until October 1901, when he was granted a commission in the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, a few weeks before he was killed.

On the morning of 30th November 1901, two convoys under the command of Brigadier-General Rimington, were attacked near Spytfontein by Boer Commandos. A hot little fight raged round a commanding hill on the left, where the Boers under Hattingh were charged by a troop of the Inniskilling’s, under Lieutenant Oliver. Oliver was killed and the troop driven off, but a squadron of New South Wales M.R. made an equally spirited attack and retook the hill.

Lieutenant Oliver was the only officer of the 3rd battalion of the Buffs killed during the Boer War.