Auction Catalogue

31 March 2010

Starting at 10:00 AM

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British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 133

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31 March 2010

Hammer Price:
£1,000

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (25723 Cpl. E. J. Hunt, R.E.) edge bruise to reverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine £600-800

Corporal E. J. Hunt, Royal Engineers, was killed in action at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith on 6 January 1900 - the same action for which Lieutenant Digby-Jones, R.E. was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 5 January 1900 Lieutenant R. J. T. Digby-Jones, R.E. was placed in charge of a detachment of Engineers and others tasked with the emplacement of several artillery pieces on Wagon Hill to the south of Ladysmith. In the early morning of the 6th, the position on Wagon Hill was attacked by Boer forces but was beaten off. The Royal Engineers Journal of 2 November 1903 then takes up the story:
‘It appears that, about mid-day, the attack was renewed. A small party of Boers suddenly appeared within a few yards of the men on the outer crest, about 15 yards from the 4.7” emplacement, evidently having ascended unperceived from the lower part of the outer slope. After a few rounds a panic seized the defenders and they retired in disorder and confusion to the rear crest, and in some cases, down the rear slope of the hill. Two Boers (Field Cornets de Villiers anf de Jagers, I believe) then advanced to the 4.7” emplacement, in and around which Digby-Jones and his detachment were resting and having some food. Apparently the retirement of the infantry defenders had been unnoticed by them, and the first intimation they had of the enemy being on the top of the hill was a shot, delivered over the parapet at a distance of a few feet, which killed 2nd Corpl. Hunt, R.E. In a moment Digby-Jones picked up a rifle, dashed round the end of the epaulment, and killed de Villiers. Lance-Corpl. Hockaday, R.E., at the same time shot de Jagers dead. .... Digby-Jones at once ordered bayonets to be fixed and, calling on his men to follow him, led them (with Denniss) at the charge, re-occupying the firing line in front of the 4.7” emplacement. .... After a short time the men who had been driven from the front were reinforced and moved forward to their places again. .... At all events the Sappers were ordered back to the 4.7” emplacement, and were gradually withdrawn as the Infantry came up. These latter had no officer with them ... and Digby-Jones, acting under orders went out to the centre of the ridge with the object of moving the men well forward at that point to their proper firing position. While performing this duty he was struck by a bullet in the throat, which killed him immediately. Shortly afterwards Denniss was heard to say, “I hear Mr Digby Jones is hit, I am going to see to him.” He was afterwards seen moving about on the sky line carrying a stretcher. I found the bodies of these two most brave and promising young officers lying close to each other ....’
For their actions in recovering the position on Wagon Hill at a critical time, Lieutenant Digby-Jones, R.E. and Trooper Herman Albrecht, Imperial Light Horse, were both posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
With modern photograph of Corporal Hunt’s grave marker and also one of the memorial on Wagon Hill which reads, ‘On this spot fell on Jan. 6th 1900 Lieut. R. J. T. Digby-Jones, V.C. and near him 2nd Lieut. G. B. B. Denniss, Sergeant C. Jackson, 2nd Corporal E. Hunt, Lance Corporal H. Bailey, Sapper W. Bland, W. Simmonds, T. Cox, Royal Engineers’. With copied research.